Newcastle United under-18s boss Graeme Carrick was proud of his side's display despite bowing out of the FA Youth Cup at St James' Park. The young Magpies twice pulled level against Arsenal, but substitute Osman Kamara struck in the 87th minute to snatch a 3-2 victory for the visitors.
Newcastle had pulled off their own comeback success to edge past Charlton Athletic in the previous round. Lewis Miley cancelled out Seb Ferdinand's opening goal, and captain Ben Parkinson rounded off a team move shortly after the restart to equalise again for the hosts.
Extra-time looked to be on the cards for the fourth-round tie on Tuesday night, until Kamara's intervention just minutes after coming on. Carrick admitted his team were left 'devastated' by the nature of his defeat, but is pleased with the performance they delivered.
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The academy boss said: "I'm really proud of them, individually and as a team we stuck together. It was tough, we knew it was going to be a tough game, and those are the type of experiences that we want for the lads.
"We scored two good goals, I thought we were a threat all day. But to lose so late and the way the goal was and the game went, obviously the lads are devastated.
"But at the same time I'm proud of them, these games are a different test. Playing at the ground and with a crowd, and I thought all of them can be proud of the way they took to it, and the attitude and character that they showed."
Jack Wilshere's side will now face Watford in the fifth round of the competition, and the visitors' delight was evident on the pitch at the full-time whistle. It is not the first time the young Magpies have shown their resolve this term in responding to setbacks, and it is a 'habit' which has once again pleased Carrick.
The U18s boss added: "It was the same at Charlton, and there's been a few times in the season we've come from behind. We've made a habit of that, so in terms of the character to overcome setbacks and respond in the right way, it's a really pleasing trait. Especially tonight in the size of the game."
It is the second time Newcastle have squared off against Arsenal this season, and both encounters proved to be high-scoring affairs. Carrick's side earned a 4-2 victory on Tyneside in September, and believes there were a lot of similarities in the latest match despite being on the wrong side of the result this time around.
He added: "I think both games have been similar, there was a lot of goal-mouth action. We've probably had a bit more control and played a few more passes in the first game. We came out on top that day and it was a big step for the lads in terms of confidence and belief in the type of football we're trying to play.
"We knew Arsenal have some really good players, we knew it was going to be a really tough game. The difference is they had one or two players who weren't available that day, and we had one or two of ours are injured which is a shame."
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