Report | Swansea City U21s 1 Arsenal U21s 4

Swansea City Under-21s suffered defeat against Arsenal at Landore in the third game of their Premier League Cup Group G campaign.

A first-half double from Catalin Cirjan and further strikes from Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Charles Sagoe Jr gave the Gunners a handsome victory as they completed the double over the Swans having also won the return fixture earlier in the season.

Corey Hurford was on the scoresheet for the home side but his strike was a mere consolation.

The Swans had entered the game on the back of an outstanding comeback in their 5-2 win over Burnley, and there were three changes for the hosts as Tarrelle Whittaker, Geoff Bony and Kian Jenkins were handed starting roles.

In wet and difficult conditions, it was hard for both sides to get going in the early exchanges but the Swans had the first chance when Joel Cotterill forced a save from Arsenal keeper Hubert Gracyk with a strike from just outside the area.

However, It was Arsenal who took the lead. Bradley Ibrahim found Cirjan on the edge of the area, and the young striker made himself a yard of space before lashing the ball past a helpless Ben Hughes.

The Swans responded brightly. Ben Lloyd forcing Gracyk into another save after good work down the left-hand side, before the midfielder's excellent cross saw Joe Thomas send a low effort in the side-netting.

But Arsenal were starting to get on top. Hughes made a good save to deny Gunners captain Lino Sousa, and doing likewise when Butler-Oyedeji was given a sight of goal.

But Hughes could not deny Butler-Oyedeji when he planted a firm low drive into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

The Swansea keeper continued to be busy, tipping away a Jack Henry-Francis strike just moments after the second goal.

Harry Jones, fresh from signing a new contract with the Swans, fired narrowly wide at the other end, but Arsenal further extended their advantage when Sagoe Jr headed in Ibrahim's cross.

And the Gunners were not done, Cirian finding space on the stroke of half-time to fire in a fourth goal for the visitors.

The Swans improved after the break as they looked for a response on the scoreboard. Lloyd latched onto Cotterill's through ball before driving a cross across the face of the Gunners goal which agonisingly evaded the white shirts in the area.. 

A neat passing movement involving Lloyd and substitute Sam Leverett then released Cotterill on the edge of the penalty area as the Swans toiled. The young midfielder tested Gracyk in the Arsenal goal. but the keeper quickly spread himself to keep the ball out of the net.

However, the Swans did find the net through substitute Hurford,who tapped in the rebound after Gracyk had been unable to hold another effort from Cotterill.

But it was too little, too late as the visitors secured the victory.

Swansea City Under-21s: Ben Hughes, Kai Ludvigsen (Richard Faakye 4), Harry Jones, Azeem Abdulai, Wasiri Williams, Joe Thomas, Tarrelle Whittaker, Joel Cotterill (captain), Geoff Bony (Sam Leverett 53), Ben Lloyd (Corey Hurford 85), Kian Jenkins. 

Unused subs: Josh Carey, Remy Mitchell 

Arsenal Under-21s: Hubert Gracyk, Reull Walters, Lino Sousa (captain), Taylor Foran, Zane Monlouis (Zach Awe 59), Bradley Ibraham, Charles Sagoe Jr (Billy Vigar 69), Jack Henry-Francis, Catalin Cirjan, Joel Ideho, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji (Kido Taylor-Hart 69). 

Unused subs: James Hillson, Mauro Bandeira.