Our under-18s bounced back in superb style, beating Reading 3-0 in the U18 Premier League South.
In the game at Bearwood Park Training Ground, Emerson Nwaneri’s smart finish saw us enter the interval with a deserved lead.
Alex Marciniak made sure of the points through a pair of superb strikes in the second 45, capping off a fine day in Berkshire.
WHAT HAPPENED
Defensive duties were required to halt an early Royals attack, as Patrick Stachow’s initial challenge deflected the ball into the path of Tyler Adjei, whose shot warmed the gloves of Remi Lupinski.
Our first goal attempt fell to Hakeem Abubakar, whose intended cross caught out Toby Borgnis and hit the cross-section of the woodwork.
We didn’t have to wait too long for the opener, though, as Louis Zecevic John drove forward with the ball from deep and clipped a neat cut back to Nwaneri, who finished expertly.
Nwaneri was in the mood and almost doubled his tally before half-time, when Bowen Phillips headed a loose ball back across Reading’s goal, but our playmaker couldn’t keep his strike under the bar.
We almost extended our lead when Phillips chipped a clever ball across the goalline that was pounced upon by Kyran Thompson. His header looked certain to have crossed the white chalk, but the officials sided with the goalkeeper, who had pulled out a top save to claw clear.
Hashi then tried an audacious one from just inside his own half, beating Borgnis but narrowly the upright too.
We found our second in fine fashion, when Nwaneri picked up a poorly cleared corner and laid it back to Marciniak, who cut in from the left and emphatically curled his effort into the top right corner.
Marciniak was at it again late on, this time benefiting from Reading’s build-up play struggles. He won the ball in a dangerous area and coolly slotted past the ‘keeper to make it 3-0 and secure three needed points for our under-18s.
WHAT’S NEXT
Our young Gunners continue their U18 Premier League South campaign when they host West Ham United on Saturday, April 25.
Kick-off at Sobha Reality Training Centre is at 11am (UK time).
LINE UPS
Reading XI: Borgnis, St. Louis, Cliff, Schutter (Agyekum 45), Neptune, Irish, Zie, Lewis, Owiti (Coffey 58), Adjei, Lonmeni.
Subs not used: Yensu, Martin-Grant, Beacroft.
Arsenal XI: Lupinski, Abubakar, Stachow, Owusu-Gyasi (Arteta 70), Sampang, Murisa, Nwaneri, Hashi (Purdy 85), Phillips (Marciniak 60), Thompson, Zecevic John.
Subs not used: Talbot, van der Straaten.
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