Birchall: “Best we’ve played all season”

Arsenal under-18s head coach Adam Birchall praised his side’s mentality after a dramatic late comeback secured a vital win at Crystal Palace.

Despite trailing to a first-half penalty, late goals from Andre Harriman-Annous and Cam’ron Ismail earned the team their sixth win in a row and a crucial three points in their pursuit of the league title.

“I was really pleased with the players — I think it’s the best we’ve played as a collective this season,” said Birchall. “From the first whistle, their intention was clear: to impose our style of play and dominate the game.

“As the match went on, particularly in the second half, I was really happy with the areas we were playing in — mainly in their half. The players showed real maturity; they didn’t panic when the goal didn’t come early, but they kept believing, and we found a way. It was brilliant to see Cam’ron come on and get the winner.”

On securing six wins in a row...

“It’s a great achievement. It’s something we work towards every day in training, maintaining high standards, and constantly looking to improve. That’s part of their development, and I’m really pleased with both their mentality and their performance today.

“We were excellent on the ball, the connections across the pitch, the triangles on both sides — we were a threat throughout.”

On the impact of substitutions...

“The subs made a big difference. We asked them to be fluid — Alex came in one role, Brando played in the pocket, which gave us something different. And Cam’ron came on full of energy. He could’ve had two goals, to be honest. He took his chance brilliantly, and he deserves a big round of applause.”

Looking ahead...

“I say it all the time — it’s about continuing to develop. We’ll take this game as a benchmark for what we’re capable of and what our intentions are as a team. The aim is always to push on, keep improving, and build on this momentum.”