WHAT HAPPENED
Our under-18s returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 4-1 away win over West Brom.
Jack Wilshere demanded a response after Tuesday’s home defeat to Crystal Palace, and we made the perfect start four minutes in when Omari Benjamin poked home his effort from Ismail Oulad M’Hand’s corner.
We were awarded a penalty shortly after when Benjamin was brought down in the box, and Seb Ferdinand rifled his penalty past Beau Hudd to put us firmly in control.
However, the hosts pulled a goal back before half time as Fenton Heard found space in the box and fired home.
After the interval, Oulad M’Hand would combine with Benjamin again to restore our two goal-lead as our red-hot striker finished his one-on-one with serious conviction.
West Brom tried to find a way back into the contest, but our backline remained firm and restricted the Baggies to very few opportunities.
Benjamin won his second penalty of the game when he was taken down again and he would step up himself to tuck home his hat-trick from 12 yards - his 11th goal in 11 games for the U18s this season.
WHAT IT MEANS
Our win moves us up two places to sixth in the Under-18s Premier League with 19 points, after 15 games played.
WHAT'S NEXT
We're back on the road again as we travel south of the river to take on Crystal Palace in the under-18s Premier League.
Kick-off at Crystal Palace Training Centre is at 11am (UK).
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal XI: Cooper (GK), Robinson, Kacurri (Small, 68), Brown, Quamina, Oulad M’Hand, Nichols, Gower (Copley, 85), Ferdinand (Oyetunde, 85), Kamara, Benjamin (Green, 79)
Subs not used: Okonkwo
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