The Arsenal u18s thrashed Spurs 4-1 on Saturday, the perfect revenge for their equivalent recent defeat to the same opposition.
Earlier last week, the Arsenal u17s faced Tottenham Hotspur in a PL Cup game, and they were on the wrong end of a 4-1 result. Though technically a different age group to the u18s, quite a few of the same players were then involved in Saturday’s league match.
This time around, Arsenal took the lead in the 17th minute through Zane Monlouis, with Mauro Bandeira claiming the assist. Spurs equalised through Roshaun Mathurin five minutes before half-time, but Arsenal retook the lead just before the break.
This time it was Omari Hutchinson scoring, set up by Bandeira again. Just a few minutes into the second half, Hutchinson turned provider, curling a pass out to Kido Taylor-Hart, who cut inside to finish with a wonderfully finessed effort.
Arsenal held that lead until injury time, when Mazeed Ogungbo finished a chance created by Nathan Butler-Oyedeji for 4-1.
The result puts Arsenal up to fifth in the table, despite having played one or two games fewer than three of the four teams above them. Win those two matches and they could be one point behind current South Division league leaders Fulham.
The gap to Spurs in third is down to three points, with Arsenal holding two games in hand on them.
From an individual standpoint, this was another example of Omari Hutchinson and Kido Taylor-Hart’s credentials, with both already high up the list of Arsenal academy goal contributors this season.
But there are plenty of other talented names in the group, whether it’s Mauro Bandeira with his two assists, Brooke Norton-Cuffy fresh from his professional contract, or Charlie Patino tying things together in midfield even when he isn’t involved in the goals.
The group just need to keep working hard to make this a positive season.