All four Arsenal teams were in action this weekend with the men playing Norwich, the women facing Reading, the u23s playing Manchester United and the u18s taking on Southampton, so how did they all do?

Arsenal 1 Norwich City 0

Arsenal v Norwich City - Premier League - Emirates Stadium Arsenal s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring their side s first goal of the game during the Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday September 11, 2021. Copyright: Tess Derry
Arsenal v Norwich City – Premier League – Emirates Stadium Arsenal s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring their side s first goal of the game during the Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday September 11, 2021. Copyright: Tess Derry

Arsenal finally got a win and a goal on Saturday when they beat Norwich 1-0 at the Emirates.

Arsenal came out flying against the Canaries but, despite dominating possession, it was the visitors who fashioned the better of the chances in the first half.

As the game wore on, Arsenal wore down and, at the break, with the game goalless, both sides had managed just one shot on target each. Sides that struggle to score in struggle to score shocker!

It took Arsenal until the 66th minute to finally find the back of the net. It was an unbelievably scrappy goal that seemed destined to stay out but, somehow, found it’s way to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in front of an empty net. Auba might have been offside but I think even Michael Oliver felt sorry for our inability to find the back of the net and let it stand.

Unlike in previous games this season so far, Arsenal players rated highly across the board. Martin Odegaard’s low this week of 6.8 would have been a star score against City or Chelsea.

Nicolas Pepe picked up Arsenal’s highest score of 8.7, helped by his assist. Aubameyang registered an 8, thanks to his goal.

As for the rest, everybody was over 7, unheard of this season.

Arsenal player ratings vs Norwich City

Reading women 0 Arsenal women 4

Jennifer Beattie of Arsenal Women scores a goal during the FAWSL match between Reading Women and Arsenal Women at the Madejski Stadium, Reading, England on 12 September 2021. Copyright: Andy Rowland
Jennifer Beattie of Arsenal Women scores a goal during the FAWSL match between Reading Women and Arsenal Women at the Madejski Stadium, Reading, England on 12 September 2021. Copyright: Andy Rowland

Arsenal women came off the back of their qualification for the Champions League group stages to beat Reading 4-0 on Sunday.

A Jen Beattie header opened the scoring for the Gunners after just 16 minutes. Beth Mead made it 2-0 just before the half hour mark with a lovely, instinctual finish from just inside the box as her hot streak continues.

Two minutes later, Mead turned creator, unselfishly pulling the ball back for Vivianne Miedema to score her 101st goal.

Miedema’s 102nd came four minutes into the second half, a superb header connecting with an excellent Mead cross.

4-0 to Arsenal is how it stayed until the final whistle.

https://twitter.com/ArsenalWFC/status/1436993695207804932?s=09

Miedema may have finished the game with two goals but Mead finished it with a goal and three assists.

Arsenal u21s 3 Manchester United u23s 1

Folarin Balogun of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, London, England on 22 August 2021. Copyright: Vince Mignott
Folarin Balogun of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, London, England on 22 August 2021. Copyright: Vince Mignotti

Folarin Balogun hit a brace for the u23s as they swept past Manchester United 3-1 on Saturday with a side captained by Eddie Nketiah.

Arsenal’s u23s made it three league wins in a row with their home win over United which leaves them in third place in Premier League 2, just one point behind Brighton and Manchester City, but with a goal difference of 0 compared to Brighton and City’s 7.

Both Balogun and Eddie Nketiah started for the u23s and it took Balogun just one minute to score his first goal against a United side that featured Phil Jones and Dean Henderson.

Balogun netted again five minutes before the break, sending Arsenal in to half-time 2-0 up.

At the break, Nketiah, who had been captain, was replaced by Mika Biereth, a summer addition from Fulham.

United pulled one back in the 63rd minute through Shoretire but a 90th minute strike from Charlie Patino made sure of the points for Arsenal.

Next up for the u23s is a league game against Chelsea (a) on 19 September with the venue still not confirmed.

Southampton u18s 3 Arsenal u18s 3

Khayon Edwards for the Arsenal u18s vs Tavistock AFC (Photo via Tavistock on Twitter)
Khayon Edwards for the Arsenal u18s vs Tavistock AFC (Photo via Tavistock on Twitter)

Arsenal’s u18s drew 3-3 with Southampton.

Although they went behind after 28 minutes, they went into half-time 2-1 up thanks to goals from Amario Crozier-Duberry, and Khayon Edwards, who has now scored five goals in the last three games and has eight goals in the u18s nine games this season (including pre-season).

Edwards second of the game gave Arsenal a 3-1 lead just after the break but it was an advantage they couldn’t hold on to.

Luke Pearce made it 3-2 and, although it looked like the youngsters had done enough to see out the game, a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time saw them denied a win.

Although they will no doubt be disappointed to have been 3-1 up and only draw the game 3-3. the u18s are still undefeated this season with a record that reads P4 W2 D2 L0 F13 A9.

Next up for the u18s is Birmingham City on 25/9/21 at the Arsenal training centre.