The Arsenal u18s kicked off their u18 Premier League Cup campaign with a win over West Ham United on Saturday morning.

Marcelo Flores (Photo via Flores on Instagram)
Marcelo Flores (Photo via Flores on Instagram)

Dan Micciche’s Arsenal u18s are taking part in the u18 Premier League Cup again this year, and they’ve been drawn in a group with Burnley, Everton, and West Ham United.

First up, they travelled away to West Ham on Saturday. Micciche named a strong side, with league starters like Khayon Edwards, Marcelo Flores, and Mauro Bandeira retaining their spots in the team.

There was a spot on the bench for 15-year-old Brian Okonkwo, younger brother to Arthur Okonkwo, his first appearance in an u18 squad. But for the most part, it was a standard Arsenal u18 team.

Flores and Edwards ended up combining for the opening goal, with the former setting up the latter for his eighth goal contribution in five games this season. Both players have certainly started the campaign in excellent form.

With 10 minutes to go, Arsenal were clinging on to their one-goal lead, but Divin Mubama provided an equaliser from the penalty spot to seemingly deny the young Gunners victory.

Fortunately, Bandeira set up Charles Sagoe Jr. for a winning goal one minute from time.

The match finished 2-1, putting Arsenal just one goal behind Burnley in the group, who won 3-1 against Everton in their opening game.

Arsenal u18 lineup vs West Ham United u18s

Mitchell; Robinson, Foran, Jeffcott; Sweet, Bandeira, Ibrahim, Quesada-Thorn; Sagoe Jr., Edwards, Flores

Substitutes

Quamina (for Jeffcott, 49), Roberts (for Flores, 74), Davies (for Quesada-Thorn, 85), Richards, Okonkwo