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U18 Premier League
Arsenal 3 (B. Phillips 4, Sampang 23, Zecevic John 83 (pen.)) West Ham 4 (Beckford 19, Obi 45, Dike 66, 90 (pen.))
Arsenal U18s suffered a 4-3 defeat to their West Ham counterparts in a tumultuous encounter despite Bowen Phillips and Saurap Sampang scoring their first goals at this level.
The Hammers ended the game with ten men after Callum Leacock was sent off late on but they still prevailed courtesy of a penalty from Andre Dike in stoppage time.
Arsenal coach Adam Birchall made just one change to the team that beat Reading in midweek as schoolboy Elyon Mbala replaced Patrick Stachow at centre-back.
Lupinski
Sampang-Owusu Gyasi-Mbala-Abubakar
Murisa
Hashi-Emerson Nwaneri
Zecevic John-Thompson-B. Phillips
Subs: Marciniak (for B. Phillips, 55), G. Arteta (for Emerson Nwaneri, 62), Van Der Straaten (for Thompson, 71), Purdy (for Owusu-Gyasi, 71). Not used: Talbot.
Arsenal started well and took the lead after just four minutes as Phillips found the net against his former club.
West Ham managed to pull level through Lewis Beckford before Sampang restored Arsenal’s advantage.
It was 2-2 at the break, however, as Chuk Obi scored for West Ham.
Alex Marciniak replaced Phillips early in the second half and Gabriel Arteta later made his second competitive appearance at this level by replacing Emerson Nwaneri.
Dike made it 3-2 to West Ham and further changes followed for Arsenal with schoolboys Charlie Purdy and Zachary van der Straaten being brought on, the latter making his U18s debut.
Louis Zecevic John equalised for Arsenal as he converted a penalty which he had won himself.
West Ham’s Leacock, who had conceded the spot-kick, was sent off for violent conduct.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, West Ham still pushed forwards and won a penalty of their own after Hakeem Abubakar fouled Dike.
Dike converted the penalty and West Ham held on to secure all three points.
Arsenal, who have five games remaining this season, stay in 11th place in the table.