Rams Fall To Defeat As Arsenal Roar Back

Derby County’s Under-23s opened up their 2017/18 Premier League 2 Division 1 season with a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in what turned out to be a story of the importance of clinical finishing.

Darren Wassall’s side led the Gunners 2-0 at St George’s Park after an hour, before the visitors, with the likes of Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin and Kieran Gibbs starring. roared back to claim all the spoils.

Kellan Gordon broke the scoring in Staffordshire. The 19-year-old wideman finished from close-range after Max Bird, the first-year scholar, won the ball back high up the pitch and played him in.

Both of those players were substituted before half-time due to injuries.

In the second half, Emil Riis Jakobsen picked his goalscoring form up from where he left off at the back end of last season and doubled the Rams’ advantage with a cool finish from just inside the area.

The Dane missed an opportunity to make it 3-0 shortly after and the Rams were punished by Arsenal shortly after as the excellent Reiss Nelson halved the deficit.

The same man scored again four minutes later with the pick of the bunch when it came to the goals and after Luke Thomas had hit the crossbar, the Gunners scored with 10 minutes remaining through Eddie Nketiah.

Thomas hit the post in the dying embers, whilst Alex Babos, Offrande Zanzala and Timi Max Elsnik all had chances to get on the scoresheet too, but it was Arsenal’s clinical finishing that proved to be the difference in this encounter.

Derby County U23s: Barnes, Stabana, Cover, Wassall, Macdonald; Gordon (Thomas, 46), Elsnik, Bird (Karic, 41), Babos; Jakobsen, Zanzala

Substitutes not used: Ravas, Bateman, Walker

Arsenal U23s: Huddart, Nelson, Gibbs (Pleguezuelo, 46), Maitland-Niles, Bielik (C), Bramall, Reine-Adelaide, Coquelin (Da Silva, 74), Nketiah, Wilshere (McGuane, 74), Willock

Substitutes not used: Keto, Malen

Major Moment

At 2-0, Derby were well in control and had the chance to make it 3-0 and kill Arsenal off.

After the visitors failed to clear their lines, Thomas, the second half substitute, smacked a loose ball from the edge of the area, but it hit the crossbar and went over.

Only two minutes later, Nelson cut the scoreline to 2-1 and the momentum of this contest swung in an instant – something the Gunners made the most of as they went on to level matters only four minutes later.

Who Impressed?

Two players, in particular, stood out at St George’s Park for the Rams.

Before being forced off in the 41st minute following a heavy collision, Max Bird had been outstanding in the middle of the park and even though he is only 16-years-old he didn’t look out of place competing against an Arsenal midfield packed full of top level quality.

In the second half, Luke Thomas also caught the eye.

Always willing to take on his man, he was a hugely positive attacking influence and was unlucky not to score two goals on the night with the woodwork denying him on two occasions.

Where Do We Stand?

Almost like a carbon copy of last year’s season opener, Derby begin the 2017/18 campaign with a 3-2 defeat.

With only one game played, the Premier League 2 Division 1 table is not even close to taking shape, but there are certainly a lot of positives for Wassall to build on in the coming weeks and months based on this showing.

Coming Up..

Wassall and his men quickly turn their attentions to an exciting trip to the capital later this week when the Rams’ Under-23s travel to Stamford Bridge.

Derby will take on Chelsea on Friday night with kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

Wassall’s side defeated the Blues 2-1 in the final game of the 2016/17 season back in May to secure their Premier League 2 Division 1 status, whilst they also held firm to record a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture too.

Here’s hoping they can maintain that record on Friday!