Sunu's side up

Manchester City 1-2 Arsenal
The FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON
Semi-Final, First Leg
City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester City FC
7pm, Wednesday 18 March 2009

Current FA Youth Cup holders Manchester City are in danger of losing their grip on the trophy after another late show from Arsenal put them in the driving seat after their Semi-Final first leg clash at Eastlands.

Strikes from captain Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Gilles Sunu ensured the Gunners came from a goal down give them the advantage ahead of the home leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Emmanuel-Thomas and Rhys Murphy steered Arsenal to the Semis with late goals against Spurs to come from behind, and Steve Bould's side did the same again here.

City started the game the brighter of the two sides and created the first chance of the game when Alex Nimely-Tchuimeni's long-range effort was tipped over by James Shea.

Shea was called into action again on 23 minutes when he tipped a Greg Cunningham free-kick onto the crossbar.

The hosts got the goal they deserved four minutes before the half-time interval, when Nimely-Tchuimeni latched on to a long ball from Kieran Trippier to lash home.

Arsenal came into the game in the second period but barely threatened until Luke Ayling's deflected effort on 70 minutes came back off the post.

But a minute later the Gunners were level. Jack Wilshere's corner found Emmanuel-Thomas at the near post and the midfielder nodded home the equaliser.

And barely 60 seconds after that Arsenal had yet another great chance as Francis Coquelin's header thumped against the bar as the Londoners started to turn the screw.

But with eight minutes left on the clock, Arsenal completed another superb FA Youth Cup comeback when Sunu raced clear to drive home across City 'keeper Joe Clegg.

The home side tried to force a way back but it was Arsenal who went closest to scoring again with Emmanuel Thomas curling a left-footed free-kick onto the bar late on.

Manchester City have now suffered their first defeat of the season, and they cannot afford to do the same again if they want to keep hold of The Cup they won so impressively last season.

Goals
Manchester City
Nimely-Tchuimeni 41

Arsenal
Emmanuel-Thomas 71, Sunu 82