The Arsenal u18s kicked off their league campaign with a win over the weekend, completing a very successful opening matchday for the club.

With the Arsenal u21s winning 3-0 against West Ham United on Friday and the Arsenal first-team winning 2-1 against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the u18s made it three from three with an opening-day victory of their own over West Ham.

West Ham were last season’s u18 team to beat, winning the u18 Premier League south and defeating Arsenal in the final of the FA Youth Cup.

But there’s always a lot of turnover in youth football from year to year, and Arsenal’s updated u18 side came out on top against the Hammers on Saturday.

After just a few cameo appearances for the u18s last season, Daniel Oyetunde stepped up to make his first u18 Premier League start for Arsenal, and within 18 minutes he had his first goal.

Oyetunde beat the West Ham goalkeeper to a cross from Luis Brown, finding the back of the net for 1-0.

Shortly after that, Oyetunde linked up well with Bless Akolbire, before Oyetunde found Louie Copley on the edge of the area to fire home for 2-0.

Arsenal continued to be on top throughout the match, despite West Ham technically outshooting the Gunners. The Hammers’ shots were largely off-target, and goalkeeper Noah Cooper was on hand to keep out the few shots that were going in.

Jack Wilshere’s side managed to maintain a clean sheet and open their season with a victory.

Arsenal u18 lineup vs West Ham United

Cooper, Nichols, Kacurri, Heaven, Brown, Rosiak, Copley, Akolbire, Ferdinand, Kamara, Oyetunde

Substitutes

Shuaib (for Akolbire, 75), Ryan (for Copley, 84), Ismail (for Kamara, 84), Clairmont (for Nichols, 90+8), Okonkwo

What’s next?

The Arsenal u18s take on West Bromwich Albion away from home on Saturday, August 19th at 12:00 BST.