Sunderland U21s 3-1 Arsenal U21s: Black Cats move step closer to confirming their PL2 play-off spot

Graeme Murty’s Under-21s produced a dominant display at Eppleton CW on Monday to tighten their grip on a play-off position in the Premier League 2 with a 3-1 win over Arsenal.

An early goal from the in-form Ahmed Abdullahi gave Sunderland the lead, before goals from Jenson Jones and Ben Kindon extended it to three.

The visitors did pull one back through Andre Harriman-Annous, who also missed a penalty, but Sunderland held firm to earn a crucial three points.

THREE GOALS, THREE POINTS 😍#SAFC | #PL2 pic.twitter.com/TQ1w6RkPQN

— SAFC Academy (@AcademyOfLight) March 23, 2026

Graeme Murty’s young Black Cats went into the game off the back of a disappointing 4-0 defeat away to Chelsea, but Abdullahi opened the scoring within two minutes.

A poor backpass from Theo Julienne allowed Abdullahi through on goal, where he beat the retreating Samuel Chapman and the onrushing Remy Mitchel to slot it home.

Arsenal thought they had equalised with 25 minutes played, when Joe Cowan flapped at a cross and it fell to Andre Harriman-Annous, whose chested shot was tapped home by Evan Mooney – but he was seen to be offside by the linesman.

Sunderland extended their lead a minute later, as a defence-splitting ball from Jack Whittaker found Charlie Dinsdale, whose his cutback was tapped home by Jenson Jones.

With 30 minutes played, Arsenal were awarded a penalty, after a late tackle from Whittaker on Harriman-Annous, but the Arsenal man was thwarted by a brilliant save from Cowan.

Harrison Jones almost earned Sunderland a third, when a well worked free-kick saw him with time on the edge of the box, but his powerful strike was narrowly over the bar.

Just before half time, Sunderland earned their third, when a brilliant corner from Harrison Jones found Kindon in the six-yard box, who was able to tap it home.

Arsenal earned one back with just over five minutes played in the second half, as a sloppy touch from Harrison Jones gave Harriman-Annous a chance and his first-time effort curled straight into the top corner.

Abdullahi almost got himself a second, when a brilliant solo run saw himself in the box, but his shot beat Mitchel in goal and was only stopped by the post.

The visitors almost got themselves a second, as a mistake from Jaydon Jones gave the Gunners a three-on-two but the shot ended up being comfortably wide of the goal.

Sunderland again came close for a fourth, but Kindon’s header from a corner was narrowly wide.

Sunderland return to action at Eppleton CW next Monday when they play Reading in the PL2