Arsenal Under-18s fell to their seventh defeat of the season, going down 3-0 at home to London rivals Chelsea.
The Gunners played well in patches at London Colney but the visitors were superior in the final third.
Carl Laraman fielded a strong side. Under-21 regulars Chuba Akpom, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Alex Iwobi all featured and were keen to impress with Arsene Wenger watching on.
The visitors made a fast start and took the lead in the sixth minute when Jeremie Boga fired a low shot past Ryan Huddart from the edge of the box.
Chelsea should have increased their lead two minutes later when Isiaw Brown beat the offside trap before rounding Huddart but Tafari Moore recovered to clear the forward’s tame shot off the line.
Arsenal started to get a foothold after a slow start. Akpom should have equalised when he rose above his marker to meet Jack Jebb’s corner but Mitchell Beeney palmed the ball wide.
On 26 minutes Jebb came close to levelling with a trademark free-kick which cannoned off the post with Beeney beaten.
The Gunners were starting to dominate the contest. In the 34th minute, Jebb floated in another dangerous free-kick towards Alfred Mugabo but the midfielder could only send his header wide.
Chelsea got their second two minutes later, against the run of play. Boga drifted in off the left wing and fired another low shot past Huddart - it was almost identical to his first.
Boga completed his hat-trick three minutes from half-time. Dominic Solante lifted a cross into the area and it was met by the unmarked Bola who powered his header home.
The second half was almost a non-event - the visitors were comfortable and strangled Arsenal of any prolonged spells of pressure.
Iwobi fired in a shot which was well held by Beeney before Huddart was forced a tip over a rasping drive from Brown on the hour mark.
In the 78th minute, Maitland-Niles marauded down the right wing and cut the ball back for Jebb but the midfielder could only shoot straight at Beeeney.
It was a disappointing morning for the young Gunners.
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