Arsenal U18s continued their impressive start to the season, beating Southampton 3-2 in the U18 Premier League South on Saturday afternoon.
They were without highly-rated Max Dowman, who was their second top scorer in the league last term. Dowman starred as a substitute in the first team’s thrashing of Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.
The 15-year-old won a penalty in stoppage time, which was converted by summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, who bagged a brace in the fixture.
In his absence, Ceadach O’Neill impressed again with a brace to take his tally to three goals for this campaign.
The Gunners U18s nearly conceded early on when Harry Gathercole had the chance to score but was denied by goalkeeper Jack Porter.
Arsenal’s first chance of the game came when Josiah King delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal, only for it to evade O’Neill and Maalik Hashi.
After fifteen minutes, the Saints created the game’s best chance, with a free-kick delivered into the area towards Luke Hawe, who headed over the bar.
Arsenal U18s took the lead on 42 minutes as O’Neill capitalised on a loose Saints pass to dispatch his shot into the bottom corner.
Three minutes after the interval, Southampton restored parity, as Gathercole made amends for his earlier miss, tapping Thierry Rohart-Brown’s brilliant set-piece into the net.
The young Gunners regained their lead in the 65th minute, when Maalik Hashi recovered possession inside the Saints’ penalty area to set up O’Neill for his second of the game.
Hashi scored Arsenal’s third goal of the game with a brilliant free-kick, which he struck into the top right corner.
The visitors did not give up and were rewarded from the penalty spot, which was converted by Gathercole. However, Birchall’s side held onto their lead to secure the maximum points.
Arsenal U18s’ next game is in the Premier League Cup, where they will face Peterborough United on Tuesday afternoon.