The Arsenal u18s pulled off an impressive win over Chelsea on Saturday, as they prepare for a trip to the Emirates Stadium next week.
Jack Wilshere’s Arsenal u18 side have been buoyed by their FA Youth Cup run recently, with impressive wins away at St. James’ Park and Vicarage Road setting up a fixture at the Emirates Stadium against Cambridge United in the quarter-finals.
In the league, the u18s have had an inconsistent campaign, and they faced a Chelsea side who were looking to end the day in second place on Saturday.
It helped that Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly were both available, with the young duo often called up to the u21s or first-team training this season.
But it still wasn’t quite a full-strength side, with u18-eligible Amario Cozier-Duberry, Reuell Walters, and Lino Sousa all playing for the u21s instead.
On paper, it was a tough fixture, particularly away from home.
Yet the u18s made light work of the game. Omari Benjamin gave the lead in the 22nd minute, turning home a rebound from Seb Ferdinand’s effort, before Michal Rosiak doubled the advantage in the 41st.
Rosiak’s free-kick goal was eerily similar to the goal the Chelsea first team conceded to Southampton that same day:
Chelsea u18 conceded a similar free kick against Arsenal today……
pic.twitter.com/5oG5c0ZyGa pic.twitter.com/tvc77uDwiB
— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) February 18, 2023
Ronnie Stutter pulled one back for Chelsea just before the break, firing into the roof of the net, but Benjamin scored his second of the game shortly after half-time to restore the two-goal advantage – assisted by Rosiak.
Substitute Jimi Gower made it 4-1 in the final 10 minutes, securing victory with a nice finish to send the u18s into that cup quarter-final on a high.
U18 captain Bradley Ibrahim even had a jab at Chelsea after the game, posting that it was a “nice kick around with the lads”.
Arsenal u18 lineup vs Chelsea
Cooper, Rosiak, Kacurri, Robinson, Quamina, Lewis-Skelly, Ibrahim, Nwaneri, Ferdinand, Kamara, Benjamin
Substitutes
Gower (for Ibrahim, 63), I. Oulad M’hand (for Kamara, 73), Nichols (for Quamina, 73), Kabia (for Ferdinand, 84), Rojas
What’s next?
The Arsenal u18s face Cambridge United u18s at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, February 23rd at 19:00 GMT. Tickets are available here.