U18 Report: Arsenal 4-2 Saints

Arsenal took the lead after just 19 minutes, with Luke Plange assisted by Kido Taylor-Hart before firing across goal.

Things got worse for Saints just six minutes later; Marcelo Flores’ deep free kick headed into his own goal by Ryan Finnigan, doubling the Gunners’ advantage.

Flores continued to be involved for the hosts, firing an effort just wide of the post just past the half hour mark.

He eventually got his goal five minutes later, Omari Hutchinson laying it off to him on the right wing before the Mexican fired across goal to make it 3-0.

Saints’ revival didn’t come until the 80th minute, where a dangerous run by Jayden Smith earned his side a penalty.

Goran Babic stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, finishing into the bottom right-hand corner to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.

This glimmer soon became slightly greater in the second minute of stoppage time; Will Tizzard’s long distanced through ball finding the onrushing Smith who fired home Saints’ second.

But any form of comeback was soon quashed by Arsenal in the 98th minute; Hutchinson squaring the ball to Khayon Edwards who couldn’t miss with the last kick of the game.