Arsenal’s u18s defeated Chelsea on Tuesday in a comeback victory thanks to goals from Marcelo Flores and Mazeed Ogungbo.

After their FA Youth Cup victory last Friday over West Ham, Arsenal welcomed Chelsea for another London derby on Tuesday. This time it was in the u18 Premier League, and represented an opportunity for Arsenal to cut the gap to Chelsea.

Chelsea started the day six points ahead of Arsenal, but having played a game more. So a win for the Gunners followed by a win in their game in hand could bring the two level on points.

Arsenal had the boost of Miguel Azeez and Kido Taylor-Hart dropping down from the u23s for the fixture since there wasn’t an u23 game for them to play in anyway.

But things didn’t start well, as Jude Soonsup-Bell gave Chelsea the lead in the 16th minute. Fortunately, Arsenal hit back quickly through Marcelo Flores.

Picking up the ball in midfield, Flores played a one-two with Khayon Edwards before firing into the top corner with his weak foot from outside the box. It was another taste of what Arsenal missed in Flores’ three-month injury absence.

And just because I loved it !!!! Here it goes again on better quality pic.twitter.com/pBw91pQiLS

— Ruben Flores (@Ruboflores) April 21, 2021

Mazeed Ogungbo then gave Arsenal the lead with a finish from close range early in the second half, assisted by midfielder Jack Henry-Francis, who has been in excellent form lately. It was Henry-Francis’ third assist in four league games.

Arsenal held out until the end of the match, bringing on Henry Jeffcott, Joel Ideho, and Luigi Gaspar for Zach Awe, Kido Taylor-Hart, and Flores to secure the win.

Lineup vs Chelsea: Ejeheri; Awe, Kirk, Monlouis, Ogungbo; Azeez, Henry-Francis; Hutchinson, Flores, Taylor-Hart; Edwards

Subs: Jeffcott (for Awe, 59), Ideho (for Taylor-Hart, 64), Gaspar (for Flores, 82)

Unused subs: Mitchell, Foran