Midfielder Khanya Leshabela believes Leicester City's Development Squad must focus on their encouraging first-half performance in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.

- Leicester City's Development Squad were defeated 2-1 by Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday

- Ali Reghba's opener was overturned by a double from Tyreece John-Jules in the capital

- Khanya Leshabela says City can take confidence from their first-half display

- The South Africa Under-23s international believes the Foxes should have 'seen the game out'

The Foxes took a throughly deserved one-goal lead at Emirates Stadium through Ali Reghba, but a brace from Tyreece John-Jules turned the fixture on its head after the interval.

Despite facing one of the most talented outfits in Premier League 2 Division 1, City's youngsters were impressive for long spells and were unlucky not to return to Leicester with any points.

Reflecting on the Under-23s' fifth outing of the 2019/20 campaign against the unbeaten Gunners, Leshabela pointed to their structured, yet expressive, early passages of play.

The boys had loads of chances and it’s disappointing not to finish them off because considering the chances we had, we should have scored three or four goals possibly. Khanya Leshabela LCFC TV

"We’ve been working on the shape all week, working as a unit, and obviously we got that early goal," the South Africa Under-23s international told LCFC TV at full-time.

"We did well to get that early goal and that was a massive positive for us. I think we just needed to see the game out and that’s where we let ourselves down.

"Obviously, Ali [Reghba] is a strong lad and he did well to hold him off and keep his balance and get the finish off.

"The boys had loads of chances and it’s disappointing not to finish them off because considering the chances we had, we should have scored three or four goals possibly.

Expand photo Ali Reghba Ali Reghba was on the scoresheet for the Foxes in London.

However, Leshabela, 19, says there is no excuse for the manner in which City surrendered their lead, but is still optimistic after making a strong start to the campaign on a personal basis.

"Yes, of course, it’s a great pitch here, it’s like a carpet, so there’s not really any excuses," he continued. "It was nice and a good pitch.

"I think I’ve started off okay to be fair. I just need to keep working, working my numbers, and then obviously keep pushing."