Next Gen suffer late defeat to Arsenal | OneFootball

Manchester City's Next Gen fell to a 1-0 loss against PGA Under-21 Division One champions Arsenal in our final game of the 2025/26 season.

After an end to end first 45 finished goalless, the tempo continued into the second half as City pressed to find an opener.

But it would be the Gunners who would find a breakthrough five minutes from full-time.

The result means Izzy Christiansen’s side finish our first PGA U21 Division One season in sixth on 22 points.

City started brightly and inside the first ten minutes we had threatened the champions’ defence as Lily Murphy sliced a low hard ball across the box to the on-rushing Aoife Colbert-Martin, but we were unable to turn it home.

That raised the tempo, but an error in defence allowed Arsenal’s Freya Woods to sprint through one on one.

Thankfully, City ‘keeper Erin Walker made an excellent triple save to keep the game alive.

With the hosts looking to force the opener, Aemu Oyama went closest to break the deadlock when she played a looped ball in towards the back stick, which rippled off the post despite looking like it would just sneak over the line.

City were well in control with 20 minutes of the first half to play at the CFA, but Arsenal proved dangerous in attack and Abigail Chipperfield came the closest to finding a breakthrough, but Walker again forced it away with her fingertips.

The Next Gen were certainly tested by the League Champions, but stood firm as they were supported on the sidelines by our Women’s First Team and we went in all square at the break.

The second half continued to be evenly contested by both sides, but the first clearcut chance wouldn’t come until the hour mark.

A misplaced pass out from the Arsenal ‘keeper fell straight to Rachael Adedini in prime position, but her effort was collected with ease.

Following a dip in tempo, there was late drama as Woods broke the deadlock with five minutes to play as her shot took a deflection on the way in and despite our hard-fought efforts we would end the season in defeat.