The Arsenal u18s won their second game of the season on Saturday thanks in large part to the return of Ethan Nwaneri to the side.

Having made an unexpected debut for the Arsenal first team, Ethan Nwaneri returned to Jack Wilshere’s u18 side this weekend.

Technically, even the u18s are above Nwaneri’s age group, as he’s still an u16 player. But there’s little chance he’ll play any u16 football this season, given his ability.

On this occasion, Arsenal were playing away to Norwich City, who raced into a very early lead courtesy of Charlie Campbell in the fourth minute.

Just over 10 minutes later, the young Gunners were level, with Nwaneri scoring from an Osman Kamara assist. Nwaneri then turned provider, setting up Ismail Oulad M’hand (younger brother of Salah-Eddine) to give Arsenal the lead.

Nwaneri is likely to end up in midfield in senior football, but he was playing up front on Saturday, which probably made it easier to get involved in the goals and assists.

But this was a close game overall, and Norwich actually slightly edged the shots on target over the 90, with six to Arsenal’s five.

Fortunately, Alexei Fedorushchenko was on hand in the Arsenal net to limit Norwich to just one goal. Wilshere’s side held out for just their second win of the season, lifting them above Chelsea into fifth place in the Southern division.

Arsenal u18 lineup vs Norwich City

Fedorushchenko, Robinson, Nichols, Kacurri, Brown, Lewis-Skelly, I. Oulad M’hand, Dudziak, Ferdinand, Kamara, Nwaneri

Substitutes

Roberts (for Nwaneri, 62), Green (for Kamara, 82), Ryan (for Dudziak, 90+3), Kovacevic, Small

What’s next?

The Arsenal u18s take on Aston Villa at London Colney on Saturday, October 8th at 12:00 BST.

Villa have struggled in the opening weeks of the season and sit 11th out of 12 teams in the u18 PL South, so Arsenal will be looking to put a run of wins together.