by Neil Weld
Pompey Academy 3 Arsenal Academy 6
Pompey hit three goals against high-flying Arsenal but still finished on the losing side at the Wellington Sports Ground.
Strikes from Alban Bunjaku and Jon Toral saw the visitors roar into a two-goal lead, before Patrick Antelmi pulled a goal back for the Blues on the stroke of half-time.
Bunjaku struck for the Gunners early in the second half, but Pompey hit back again with Jed Wallace (pictured) reducing the deficit.
The goals kept coming with Kris Olsson making it 4-2 for Arsenal and Ashley Harris then pulling a goal back for the Blues.
But the visitors made sure of the victory late in the game as Bunjaku completed his hat-trick, before Serge Gnabry completed the scoring in stoppage time.
Academy manager Andy Awford said: “It was disappointing to go in behind at the interval because, in terms of chances, it was quite an even half.
“I said to the lads at half-time that they were still in it, so wasn’t pleased when we allowed Arsenal to score again 30 seconds after the restart.
“But we stuck at it and kept battling away. We showed plenty of determination and grit when we could have folded.
“Arsenal scored twice right at the end to make the scoreline less flattering for us. But we were going for it in the final minutes, so it was always going to finish either 6-3 or 4-4.
“I’m not too despondent because we came up against a side with much greater resources and matched them for large periods of the game.
“Obviously I’m not happy that we’ve conceded six goals, but that’s something that we’ll work on in training next week.”
Pompey: Gledhill; Wheeler, Warren, Grant, Butler; Wallace, Branford (Magri 84), Colson (c); Williams, Jennings (Higgins 62); Antelmi (Harris 69)
Subs not used: Fitzharris, Awford
Arsenal: McDermott; Bellerin, Monteiro, Hayden, Campbell; Bunjaku, Olsson, Toral; Monakana (Gnabry 55), Neita; Akpom (Wynter 69)
Subs not used: Vickers, Fagan