A hat-trick of penalties from captain, Charlie Gilmour, along with Tyreece John-Jules’ first goal at u18 level sealed a comprehensive victory for Arsenal in Tier One of this year’s Merit Group.

Gilmour hadn’t scored all season prior to this fixture but managed to keep his cool on all three occasions, whilst creating the assist for John-Jules’ strike twenty minutes after the half-time interval.

A number of regulars were drafted into the u23 side to face Sunderland and as a result, Kwame Ampadu was forced to rotate accordingly. Xavier Amaechi and goalscorer John-Jules were given starting spots, whilst Folarin Balogun, an outstanding performer at the Future Cup last week, earned a place on the substitutes’ bench.

The u18s team (4-2-3-1): Crean; Osei-Tutu, Ballard, Omole, T. Bola; Benson, Gilmour; Smith-Rowe (Balogun, HT), Amaechi (Thompson, 82′), Burton; John-Jules (Beckford, 90′).

Eddie Nketiah scored a hat-trick during the previous match in an enthralling 4-3 win over Manchester City twelve days ago and despite his notable absence, Gilmour replicated his goalscoring efforts from the spot.

Liverpool’s only goal of the game was from a penalty too when Adam Lewis was hauled down and coolly levelled the scoring after just half an hour.

The visitors had started the game brightly, but failed to convert their clear-cut opportunities. Liam Millar and substitute Okera Simmonds both spurned good chances whilst Arsenal picked their moments to attack and caught them out on the break, as they pushed to try and grab something from the match.

The result leaves Arsenal in second place with a game in hand over current leaders Chelsea, who were 2-1 winners over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday but crucially lost to Manchester City two weeks ago.

An away trip to Blackburn, who prematurely ended the Young Guns’ FA Youth Cup aspirations earlier this term, is up next.