The Gunners were a man light for 55 minutes of Saturday’s PL2 encounter following Henry Jeffcott’s second yellow card, which resulted in a penalty for Wolves. Ollie Tipton converted from the spot, but the old gold lost their lead when James Sweet equalised in the second half. Hubert Graczyk in the home goal was there to thwart the Wolves youngsters, with Dylan Scicluna, Luke Matheson and Nathan Fraser all finding the goalkeeper in the way and forcing the visitors to settle for a point at Meadow Park.
On being frustrated not to win the game
“It’s always disappointing when you’re 1-0 up against 10 men and don’t win the game. I thought we were excellent in the first half and dominated a team that are top of the league and haven’t lost a game this season.
“They’re a really high standard team and I thought we were more than a match for them, if not the better team.
“They had the odd moment, but we looked really dangerous and caused them problems. We got our goal we deserved through the penalty, and he sent the boy off at the same time.
“It became a bit of a dangerous game in the fact that we were 1-0 up and looked really threatening, but they still looked threatening on the counter attack – a bit like we did at Palace earlier on in the season.
“They’ve got some good attacking players and took some risks. Defensively it was still going to be tough, but we created enough chances to get another goal which would’ve made it a lot easier.
“For their goal, we recovered really well initially and got ourselves brilliantly back into position but then gifted the ball to them. That was hugely disappointing and then they had something to hang onto.
“From then on, we dominated the game with them still being a little bit of a threat going the other way. We created some decent chances, but great credit to them for getting something out of the game.
“It was a game we should’ve put to bed. If you’d have said to me last night that we’d come here, be the better team and get a point, I might’ve said that’s a good result. However, in the position we were in, it’s two points lost. The boys are frustrated in there because we should’ve won the game.”
On how the game changes playing against 10 men
“It differs in the sense that you’ve got the ball and you’re controlling the game. That meant it was a slight change to our game plan as we were playing a little bit on the counter attack and had been very successful with.
“In some ways it doesn’t help you, but it allowed us to control the game and we did. What we didn’t show was enough clinical finishing in front of the goal, no real class in front of the goal and that was from numerous different people who could’ve put the game to bed.
“We gave away a really soft goal and worse-case scenario we should’ve been walking away from here with a 1-0 win.”
On the quality of recent performances
“In the last three games I think we’ve been excellent, and we’ve only ended up with two points. We can be really pleased with our performances and the progress we’re making – I can’t fault them.
“That’s the start of a run of really tough games we’ve got. To come here and get something is a good result, but if it’s a first team environment they’re going into then they have to win that game.
“It hurts when you don’t win and hopefully it’ll hurt them, and they learn from it. That’s what it’s all about.”
On Alfie Pond’s debut
“I thought he was very good. It became a different game for our centre backs when they went down to 10 men – all of a sudden, we were in possession rather than out of possession.
“In the first half before the sending off, the two centre halves did very well.
“Alfie’s played non-league football at a high level but that will be the first time he’s played at the top end of youth football.
“Hopefully he’ll get fit from it and come on as a better player for it.”
On facing Stockport County on Tuesday evening
“They played a very senior team in their first game against Port Vale. It’s a different style of football we’ll come up against.
“Teams in academy football play out from the back persistently and they’ll play a bit more ‘real football’ with a mixture of longer balls, being competitive and playing some good football as well. It will be a real test for us.
“We’re losing some players for international duty, so it’ll be a challenge for us.
“I said to the players that they’ll learn a lot about themselves from the next two games.”
