'There was nothing I could say' - Inside the Man City dressing room after Arsenal's 120th-minute Youth Cup winner

Ben Wilkinson couldn't fault the attitude or application of his Manchester City under-18s on Tuesday, but expressed regret they weren't able to showcase their best in a footballing sense in defeat at Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup semi-final.

Wilkinson admitted that his gameplan 'went out of the window' after just seven minutes at the Emirates Stadium when City defender Lakyle Samuel was sent off as last man, and Arsenal scored the resulting free-kick. However, the young Blues adapted with ten men and sent the game to extra time thanks to Justin Oboavwoduo's 75th-minute equaliser.

The semi-final looked to be decided on penalties until Myles Lewis-Skelly headed home in injury time at the end of extra time to leave City devastated and Arsenal jubilant. Reflecting on the defeat, U18s coach Wilkinson said the dressing room was devastated after such a heroic effort with ten men.

ALSO READ: Ten-man Man City suffer FA Youth Cup heartbreak vs Arsenal after epic comeback

"It was really difficult [in the dressing room]," Wilkinson told MEN Sport.

"I did find it difficult to deliver the right words. There was nothing I could say. Obviously we're proud of them, they did fantastically well. But we didn't come here to lose and they're winners, the boys. They've grown up winning and love that feeling. They're mentally disappointed I think, especially the older ones knowing they probably won't get another crack at it.

"They put so much into the game, physically and mentally. It was increased by the circumstances in the game, they're devastated. It's really hard for me to pick them up now."

With Samuel's seventh-minute sending-off, City's plan of taking the game to Arsenal had to be ripped up. While that gave Wilkinson and his coaches