Our under-18s scored two late goals to beat Norwich City 2-1 in their U18 Premier League South opener on Saturday.
Despite our young Gunners making a fast start, it was Norwich who got the opening goal when Finlay Corke converted from close range.
The Canaries fended off our attacks for the majority of the second half, but Ceadach O’Neill slotted his effort home in the 82nd-minute to set up a thrilling finish.
Not satisfied with a point, we continued to push and found our winner when Maalik Hashi poked home the rebound after O’Neill was denied a second.
What Happened
Adam Birchall’s side got off to a quick start in Norfolk, with Alex Marciniak stinging the hands of Luis Lines three minutes in, and Brando Bailey-Joseph being denied two minutes later.
Marciniak came close once again in the first half, firing an ambitious effort across goal just wide of the far post.
It was the Canaries who struck first however, when Finley Corke turned home the rebound after Jack Porter had saved Sinclair-Brown’s header from a corner.
Corke’s goal sparked the game into life before the break, with Kyran Thompson and Reece Wilkes coming close for their respective sides in the final seconds of the first half.
After the break, the action was just as frantic, with Jack Porter making an excellent save to deny Finlay Oligbo before Josiah King smashed an effort off the post.
The game turned on a triple substitution made by Adam Birchall, with Ceadach O’Neill, Teshaun Murisa and Maalik Hashi all being introduced.
With eight minutes to go, Murisa picked out O’Neill with a precise ball, allowing the winger to slot home the equaliser.
We kept the pressure up on the hosts and with just a minute to go, O’Neill’s saved effort fell kindly for Hashi who found the empty net to secure a winning start.
What It Means
With victory in our opening game, we are level with a number of teams at the top of the U18 Premier League South.
What’s Next
Our under-18s are in action again next Saturday, taking on Southampton in our first home game of the season.
Kick-off at Sobha Realty Training Centre is scheduled for 12pm (UK time).
Line-Ups
Norwich XI: Lines, Oligbo, Victor (Munikwa, 90’), Oserhiemen, Rowland, Glossop, Cooper, Sinclair-Brown, Corke, Wilkes (Northover, 75’), Tavares (McCourt, 78’)
Subs (not used): Tkaczuk, Mundle
Arsenal XI: Porter, Hamill, Onyekachukwu, Chapman (Hashi, 60’), Ogunnaike, Ibrahim (O’Neill, 60’), Julienne, Marciniak, King, Thompson (Owusu-Gyasi, 90+4’), Bailey-Joseph (Murisa, 60’)
Subs (not used): Talbot
Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.