**U18 Premier League**
**Arsenal 3 (O’Neill 43, 65, Hashi 74) Southampton 2 (Gathercole 48, 85)**
Ceadach O’Neill scored a brace and Maalik Hashi was also on target as Arsenal U18s continued their winning start to the season by beating Southampton 3-2 at home today.
Coach Adam Birchall made some alterations to the team that beat Norwich in the opening game of the season, which included Teshaun Murisa coming in for Ife Ibrahim, who was involved with the U21s last night.
O’Neill and Hashi also started, with Kyran Thompson and Sam Chapman named on the bench. Josiah King moved to right-back with captain Callan Hamill at centre-back.
U15 goalkeeper Charlie Phillips was named amongst the substitute, with first year scholar Bowen Phillips receiving his first league callup at this level.
**Porter**
**King-Hamill-Onyekachukwu-Ogunnaike**
**Murisa**
**Julienne-Hashi**
**Bailey Joseph-O’Neill-Marciniak**
**Subs: Thompson (for Bailey-Joseph, 72), Tahou (for Marciniak, 80). Not used: C. Phillips, Chapman, B. Phillips.**
O’Neill scored last weekend and he opened the scoring on this occasion just before half time.
However, Southampton equalised courtesy of Harry Gathercole shortly after the restart.
O’Neill restored Arsenal’s lead in the 65th minute after being set up by Hashi.
It was then Hashi’s turn to get on the scoresheet as the midfielder made it 3-1 in the 74th minute.
Schoolboy Kyran Thompson had come on just prior to that goal, with Josh Tahou then entering the fray for his first league appearance at this level.
There were some concerning moments late on, with King conceding a penalty which Gathercole converted.
However, Arsenal managed to hold on and have now taken maximum points from their first two games of the season.
Birchall’s team are back in action on Tuesday when they host Peterborough United in the U18 Premier League Cup.