The Young Guns got their first win on the board, following their opening goalless draw away to West Brom and two defeats.
Arsenal U18s secured their first win of the 2026-27 season on Saturday, beating Southampton 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Maalik Hashi.
The Young Gunners had opened their Under-18 Premier League South campaign with a goalless draw away to West Brom, where Jack Talbot made a series of important saves to help Arsenal leave with a clean sheet and a point. However, they lost their next two games, including against Brighton last week when they were reduced to nine men.
Saturday’s match was the first since Josh Smith was quietly placed in interim charge of the U18 side after stepping up from his previous role as assistant coach.
Hashi settled the contest inside the opening 15 minutes, finishing neatly off the post, and Smith was pleased with the way Arsenal imposed themselves from the start.
“I thought it was a very positive start to the game,” he said. “We’ve been speaking to the boys about how they start and today we had seven corners in the first 10 minutes, so in terms of how we started the game, it was very pleasing.
“In the first half, the build-up, finding the free player, using the third man and the entries into the final third were probably the best that we’ve seen. We’re trying to encourage Mal [Maalik Hashi] to shoot from distance and have our midfielders arrive late into the box to score, so really pleased for Mal today.
“Second half, I thought it was a game where, if we take our chances, it could be two, three or four. I think the decision-making in the second half, sort of in and around the box, not taking those chances, gave Southampton a little bit of hope. But in terms of how the lads reacted and how we had to defend, we’re pleased.”
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