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Arsenal U23 1-1 Brighton U23: PLAYER RATINGS

Arsenal U23s took on Brighton U23s at the Emirates on Monday evening. CREDIT @laythy29 Archant

Arsenal U23s led by Freddie Ljungberg took on Brighton U23s at the Emirates on Monday evening. Read on for Layth Yousif’s PLAYER RATINGS

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Arsenal

Deyan Iliev: 7 - A big season for the Macedonian-born 23-year-old. Showed excellent anticipation, reflexes and footwork to palm away a stinging first-half free-kick from Brighton’s No11, Alireza Jahanbakhsh. Still time on his side but needs an excellent season to make the step-up from academy football

Jordi Osei-Tutu: 7.5 - A tough, consistent performer down the right channel. Possesses an excellent temperament. Has a good touch, alongside large reserves of athletic prowess when looking to supplement attacks

Cohen Bramall: 7 - Steady from the former 22-year-old Hednesford defender who spent last season on loan at Birmingham. At his age, and arguably not even first team squad’s fifth choice left-back he needs to have a stellar season to make a breakthrough

Charlie Gilmour: 7 - Solid from the combative defensive midfielder. Showed good positional discipline

Danny Ballard: 7.5 - There can’t be many players who have battled back from being rejected by Arsenal, but the 18-year-old has – twice already. Uncompromising and tough. A good combination for a centre-half

Julio Pleguezuelo: 7 – Has pace and is sound in the air at this level. The captain was brave when required to be

Xavier Amaechi: 7 - Powerful early on but another that faded

Jo Willock: 7 - Lively start but faded. Another who needs to perform at a consistently high level this season in order to break into the first team squad after a promising term last year

Eddie Nketiah: 7 - Lively with pace to burn but not as effective as he would have liked against a well-organised Brighton backline

Emile Smile-Rowe: 7 - Good movement on and off the ball which was praised by boss Freddie Ljungberg. Has vision, technique and creativity but another who faded as the match wore on. A huge prospect nonetheless

Reiss Nelson: 8 - You could tell the 18-year-old has had a season in the cut-and-thrust of the Premier League and European football. Looks a giant in academy football. Has simply outgrown this level already as witnessed by his sublime late goal

Substitutes:

Bukayo Saka: N/A - Replaced the hobbling Bramall but not much time to make an impression

Joseph Olowu: N/A - On for Amaechi late on

James Olayinka: N/A On for Ballard with seconds remaining