Jack Wilshere's team continued their impressive start to 2024 with a dominant 3-0 victory over Reading.
Dan Casey, Luis Brown, and Osman Kamara found the back of the net, securing a commanding performance for us.
Entering the game on the back of six wins in their last seven matches, our young Gunners displayed confidence from the outset. Dan Casey, making his debut for the side after a lengthy time out with injury, showcased his brightness throughout the first half. His early impact included winning a foul on the edge of the box, leading to a Michal Rosiak free-kick that was straight at the keeper. Moments later, Casey orchestrated an opportunity for Chido Obi-Martin, whose shot was blocked.
Kamarni Ryan, a scorer in last week’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa, tested the waters from distance with a volley, but it was right at Reading's keeper, Harrison Rhone.
The Royals posed minimal threat but Noah Cooper was called into action to make a crucial save from Taylan Harris.
Casey's stellar first-half performance was rewarded with a goal, finding the top corner after seamless link-up play with Obi-Martin in the box, to give us the lead ten minutes before half time.
The dynamic duo of Casey and Obi-Martin almost doubled our lead but Obi-Martin's effort was thwarted by Rhone. However, we did manage to notch a second goal just before the break when Luis Brown expertly headed Rosiak’s set piece into the top corner, sealing a dominant first-half display.
Following the break, we sustained our dominance, and Casey, who had been a constant threat for the Royals throughout the game, came close to adding a third goal, only to see his shot parried away.
Our third goal came ten minutes from the end, a result of more exceptional work from Obi-Martin, who won the ball high up the pitch. He then played in Osman Kamara, who calmly slotted home from close range, putting the finishing touch on a commanding performance at London Colney.
WHAT IT MEANS
Our seventh win in eight games sees us move to fourth in the Under-18s Premier League South with 21 points after 11 games.
We also extend their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions.
WHAT'S NEXT
Our upcoming fixture will take us on the road to face Liverpool in the FA Youth Cup fourth-round on Saturday, January 20.
Kick-off at AXA Training Centre is at 5.30pm (UK).
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal XI: Cooper, Julienne (Ismail, 84), Kacurri, Sweet, Brown, Rosiak, Casey (Fisher, 62), Akolbire (Small, 62), Ryan, Kamara (Clairmont, 84), Obi-Martin
Sub not used: Rojas
Key Events
Goals: Casey (35), Brown (45), Kamara (81)
Bookings: Brown (54)
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
