Player Ratings: Arsenal U21 1-0 Brighton U21s 

Talented young Arsenal keeper Tommy Setford limps off before half time as Seb Ferdinand's late winner clinches victory 

Seb Ferdinand's 88th minute winner was enough to hand Max Porter's Young Guns a late victory at Meadow Park on Friday evening 

Arsenal beat early season pacesetters Brighton 1-0 in a real smash and grab affair with a last gasp goal from Seb Ferdinand at Meadow Park. 

The Seagulls enjoyed the better of the chances with Tommy Setford making a wonderful save midway through the first half and the visitors hit the post moments later.

Unfortunately, Setford was forced off late in the first half following a hefty collision with a Brighton forward.  Brighton thought they had taken the lead on 58 minutes through Shane Nti but the goal was ruled out straight away for an offside.  

After a conservative display throughout, Arsenal created their first real chance right on 90 minutes as Charles Sagoe got down the left-hand side of the box and flashed a dangerous cross across the face of the goal, leaving Seb Ferdinand to gleefully tap home at the back post. 

In truth Arsenal struggled to create any real chances of note until the goal, but they remained solid defensively which will please Max Porter. 

Here’s how the players rated out of ten:  

Tommy Setford (off 37 mins) 7/10

Josh Nichols: 7/10

Marcell Washington: 6.5/10 

Maldini Kaccuri: 8/10 

Brayden Clarke 6/10

Ife Ibrahim off 69 mins) 6/10

Seb Ferdinand: 7/10

Louis Copley: 7.5 

Andre Harriman-Annous: 6/10

Damiene Augustine: 6/10

Charles Sagoe: 7/10  

Substitutes:

Remy Mitchell-on 37 mins 7/10

Theo Julienne on 69 mins 6.5/10

Ceadach O’Neill on at HT 6.5/10