Post-Match Report

Report: Arsenal U18 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal U18 team celebration against Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur U18 -

Arsenal Training Centre, London Col
U18 Premier League South
U18 Premier League South
  Arsenal U18
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Arsenal U18
4 - 1
  Tottenham Hotspur U18
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Tottenham Hotspur U18

WHAT HAPPENED

We picked up our first win of the season as we beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in the north London derby at London Colney on Saturday afternoon.

Jack Wilshere's side, buoyed by an inspirational video message from Cesc Fabregas in the dressing room before the derby, took the game to the visitors right from the first whistle.

Our fast start was rewarded inside five minutes as Harrison Dudziak picked out Omari Benjamin, our forward creating space for himself before firing into the top corner beyond Luca Gunter.

We doubled our lead soon after, Bradley Ibrahim winning the ball in midfield and finding Ethan Nwaneri, whose impressive outside-of-the-foot pass fell perfectly into the path of Benjamin, who scored his second with a composed finish low across Gunter.

It was a third for us and Benjamin midway through the half, a flowing team move from defence to attack unlocked the visitors as Nwaneri picked out Benjamin in a wide area, allowing him to cut inside onto his right foot and complete his hat-trick.

Tottenham's afternoon went from bad to worse minutes before the break, as Jahziah Linton was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Dudziak.

The visitors picked up a consolation goal midway through the second half, Damola Ajayi finishing at the back post after we failed to clear a corner.

With 20 minutes left to play, Nwaneri got the goal that his performance deserved, firing home on the rebound after more good play from Ibrahim in midfield.

Wilshere gathered his young Gunners on the pitch at the final whistle to give them a rousing team talk after we picked up a statement victory in the derby.

WHAT IT MEANS

We move up to sixth place in the Under-18 Premier League table, five points behind league-leaders West Ham, after three matches played.

WHAT'S NEXT

Next up for Wilshere's side, a trip to Newcastle as we face the Magpies in a Premier League Cup group stage clash on Saturday, September 3.

Kick-off at Little Benton is at 11am (UK time).

TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Rojas; Nichols, Kacurri, Quamina, Quesada-Thorn, Ibrahim, Gower, Ferdinand, Dudziak, Nwaneri, Benjamin

Substitutes: Kovacevic, Small, Ryan, Oulad M’Hand, Green