U23s Rise Delights Beaglehole
- Under-23s manager Steve Beaglehole describes his joy after Leicester City's 3-1 victory over Arsenal
- The Foxes are now second in Premier League 2 Division 1, level on points with leaders Liverpool
- Josh Gordon, Josh Eppiah and Harvey Barnes struck for City's Development Squad at Holmes Park
- Following a Premier League Cup clash with Everton, Liverpool visit King Power Stadium next month
Josh Gordon, Josh Eppiah and Harvey Barnes found the net for the Foxes before a late consolation strike from Vlad Dragomir for Arsenal, who also had Tyreece John-Jules sent off in the second half.
City’s Under-23s remain unbeaten in Whetstone and are now level on 33 points with Premier League 2 Division 1 leaders Liverpool, although the Reds currently occupy top spot on goals scored.
Speaking to LCFC TV at full-time, Beaglehole said: “I thought we were excellent tonight, really good, against a good, clever side with clever movement in and around the box.
“[Arsenal] have scored a lot of goals in the last few games, 4-0 against Manchester United, four against Everton, three against Sunderland.
“We started with a really good tempo. We were back on it from set-plays, we scored a good goal and then Eppiah’s goal and the cream was Barnsey’s [Barnes] finish.
“We’ve beaten the Arsenal and we’ve got a brilliant result against them but we’ve also proved that we’ve got players up there with their best players tonight.
“That’s a great credit to where the Club’s gone in terms of recruitment and the progression of players.
"I believe there was 10 players, including the bench, from the Academy so that’s a great credit to the players and the coaches who work with them.”
On the influence Monday’s result had on the league table, injecting new life into City’s Division 1 title bid, Beaglehole couldn’t hide his joy following their ninth league win this term.
“I’m really, really delighted,” he added. “It’s thrown it up and it’s going to be a great end to the season. We’ve got four games left and Arsenal have got to play Liverpool like us.
“It’s all to play for. I thought a couple of weeks ago, when we dropped points, that we were out of it.
“I’ve said all along that it would be an unbelievable achievement if they lads could pull it off and they’re in with a shout. They’re one of three teams now that have got a chance of winning it.”