The Arsenal u18s thrashed Crystal Palace 8-3 at the weekend, with star centre-forward Chido Obi-Martin scoring four goals.

Jack Wilshere’s Arsenal u18 side took on Crystal Palace on Saturday, and they made light work of their opponents in a game packed full of goals.

Just eight minutes into the match, the ball fell to left-winger Osman Kamara on the left of the penalty area, and the 17-year-old curled a shot in for 1-0.

Two minutes later, it was 2-0. Chido Obi-Martin hit the crossbar, and the ball eventually fell to Harrison Dudziak to convert Arsenal’s second.

Before 20 minutes were on the clock, Obi-Martin had his goal, sliding a calm reverse finish past the goalkeeper.

Five minutes after that, Crystal Palace pulled one back, with Jesse Derry scrambling the ball over the line. But Arsenal restored their three-goal advantage before half-time, with Obi-Martin sliding another shot in from the edge of the box.

Palace started the second half well, with Ben Casey rounding the goalkeeper to make it 4-2.

But Arsenal had the perfect chance to respond seconds later, as Kamara was brought down in the penalty area for a Gunners spot-kick. Obi-Martin stepped up and completed his hat-trick in emphatic fasion.

Kamara then scored a deserved second goal of the game, tapping in a rebound for 6-2, before Palace got a penalty of their own, with Derry winning the kick and scoring for 6-3.

With half an hour left, the goals finally started to dry up, but Arsenal still had time to put a couple of finishing touches on the win.

First, Obi-Martin scored his fourth of the game in the 89th minute, with substitute Theo Julienne playing a lovely through ball for the striker to finish.

Julienne then got a goal of his own in injury time, racing through the Palace midfield before beating the defence and the goalkeeper with a well-placed shot.

A crazy game finally came to an end at 8-3, with Arsenal taking three points and a plus-five boost to their goal difference.

Obi-Martin and Kamara will both be pleased to have boosted their goal tallies, with 16-year-old Obi-Martin now up to eight goals in 10 games in the u18 Premier League, and 17-year-old Kamara at seven in 10.

Then there was Brayden Clarke, making his debut for Arsenal after the club officially announced his signature earlier that day.

It was a big day for Julienne as well, with the England u16 international bagging his first goal and assist at this level.

The win leaves Arsenal fifth in the u18 Premier League South, three points off fourth-place Fulham with two games in hand.

Arsenal u18 lineup vs Crystal Palace

Porter, Nichols, Heaven, Clarke, Sweet, Lewis-Skelly, Rosiak, Dudziak, Kamara, Kabia, Obi-Martin

Substitutes

Julienne (for Dudziak, 72), Copley (for Sweet, 81), Akolbire (for Kabia, 86), Asemota, Shuaib

What’s next?

Any Arsenal youth internationals will join up with their countries for the international break, with Obi-Martin set to link up with the Denmark u17s.

Arsenal then return to u18 league action with a home game against the team above them in the table, facing Fulham on Saturday, March 30th at 11:00 GMT.