By Connor Armstrong
Eddie Nketiah scored two goals and assisted another as Arsenal Under-18s started their season in style with a 4-0 win over Aston Villa at London Colney.
Josh Dasilva opened the scoring after just five minutes when Vlad Dragomir’s pass allowed him to charge past two opponents before drilling a low effort into the net.
The hosts doubled their advantage when Nketiah and Emile Smith-Rowe combined in the left channel before the latter coolly slotted past Villans stopper Viktor Johansson.
Two became three shortly before the interval when Nketiah drifted in from the left flank before rifling a low effort inside the near post.
The Arsenal forward twice went close to finding the net again, firstly seeing an overhead kick saved by Johansson before his left-footed strike crashed back off the underside of the crossbar.
Nketiah eventually did add a second goal to his tally for the afternoon, pouncing to tap home after Johansson could only parry a headed effort from Joseph Olowu.
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