U21s report: Arsenal 3-0 West Ham United

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We started our Premier League 2 campaign with three points on the board after beating West Ham United 3-0 at Meadow Park on Friday night.

Goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Amario Cozier-Duberry saw us record a fine win to kick off the campaign in style.

Mehmet Ali's side made the better start on the night as Ethan Nwaneri had a chance to put us ahead. A long run through the middle by Reuell Walters created an opportunity for Nwaneri from the edge of the area but the Hammers' No.1, Jacob Knightbridge, dealt with it accordingly.

Charles Sagoe Jr was able to follow up with a dangerous ball across the goal but it was tipped agonisingly wide by the shot-stopper.

Both Nwaneri and Butler-Oyedeji looked sharp in the opening stages, with the latter nodding an effort into the path of Nwaneri to strike from distance into the ground and on target but once again stinging the hands of Knightbridge.

Our young Gunners created ample chances inside the first 45 with another great link-up between Nwaneri and Butler-Oyedeji causing trouble for the West Ham goalkeeper.

The visitors saw their first chance come just before the break in the form of a Kaelon Casey header which Ovie Ejeheri did superbly to deny.

Henry-Francis was replaced by Lewis-Skelly prior to the interval as we started the second half with the same energy as the first. A free-kick delivery from Nwaneri deflected off the wall and into the path of Lewis-Skelly to slot home comfortably from close range.

No more than four minutes later, we doubled our lead through Butler-Oyedeji after Nwaneri pulled it back to allow the centre forward to convert.

Our final attempt for a third goal came successfully four minutes into stoppage-time through Cozier-Duberry, who found the bottom corner from close range and secure the victory.