A goalless first half wasn't without action as fantastic goal-saving blocks from Freddie Simmonds for Wimbledon and Elijah Upson for us were required to keep the scores blank in the opening 45. 

Wimbledon took the lead right at the start of the second half through Callum Maycock, but we struck back with 20 minutes to play through substitute Evan Mooney, before Emerson Nwaneri continued his recent heroics with an 87th-minute winner. 

FIRST HALF

Wimbledon probed in the early stages of the contest, keeping the game in our half, and came close to an early lead when Aron Sasu broke free on the right and forced a strong save from Khari Ranson from a tight angle. 

We responded to the wake-up call with a chance of our own at the other end with Theo Julienne threading an excellent pass through to Mylo Bernard. Bernard took the ball in stride but lifted his effort over the crossbar. 

Our young Gunners continued to keep the pressure on in the opening 20 minutes, with both James Scanlon and Igor Tyjon having efforts blocked in the penalty area as we took control of proceedings in south London. 

The best chance of the half fell to James Scanlon shortly after, with the midfielder seemingly one-on-one with Joe McDonnell after a defensive miscue from Wimbledon, but Simmonds made a charging recovery run to save the Dons. 

It was soon our turn to appreciate a goal-saving challenge as Upson flung himself in front of a shot from Ed Leach that had been heading for the corner of the net, keeping our clean sheet in tact. 

We were on top towards the end of an entertaining first half and almost took the lead with a flowing move, only for Julienne to put a close-range effort straight at McDonnell with the goal at his mercy. 

SECOND HALF

The Dons made a quick start to the second half, threatening in the opening minute. Steven Sessegnon broke forward and cut in on his right foot, before bending a fiercely struck effort just over the crossbar. 

But a minute later the hosts were more clinical, taking the lead through a well-placed strike from Maycock, who picked out the bottom corner from just inside the penalty area. 

We stepped up our tempo and enjoyed a good spell of possession after going behind, and forced the first save of real quality from McDonnell when Emerson Nwaneri drove a powerful effort towards goal from the edge of the 18-yard box. 

Wimbledon came back into the game midway through the half and should've doubled their lead when Simmonds picked out Harry Hedges in space in the penalty area, but the Dons' winger struck the crossbar from close range. 

With the hosts high up the pitch chasing a second goal, we caught them out on the counter-attack and found our equaliser through Mooney, who latched onto Nwaneri's ball across goal from close range. 

The final 20 minutes was played at a high intensity with both sides vying for a winner, but it was our young Gunners who came out on top as Nwaneri's deflected effort found the bottom corner in the 87th-minute to send us through to the last 32. 

WHAT IT MEANS

Victory in south London means we sit second in Southern Group F, guaranteeing our place in the last 32 in the week commencing Monday, December 7. 

If Barnet, who are already through were to lose heavily at home to Leyton Orient in the final match in the group, we would win the group on goal difference. 

WHAT'S NEXT

With the EFL Trophy knockout stages not getting underway until December, the next game for many of our young Gunners will be in Czechia against Slavia Prague in the UEFA Youth League.

Our under-21s are back in action on Sunday, November 8 with a Premier League 2 clash against Aston Villa at Mangata Developments Stadium (2pm UK). 

LINE-UPS

AFC Wimbledon XI: McDonnell, Sessegnon, Harrison, Maycock (Hippolyte, 67'), Nelson, Simmonds, Horan, Goma, Leach, Sasu (Ashamu, 77'), Hedges (Fraser-Smith, 89')

Subs: Bishop, Seddon, Johnson, Stockley

Arsenal XI: Ranson, Owusu-Gyasi, Upson (Ogunnaike, 70'), Dixon (Clarke, 67'), Abubakar, Murisa (Ibrahim, 58'), Julienne, Nwaneri, Scanlon, Tyjon (Stevens, 58'), Bernard (Mooney, 67')

Subs: Phillips, Agustien