Arsenal’s Hale End Academy is thriving, and the under-21 side got their season off to the best possible start with a 4-2 victory over Manchester United.
There is already some bad blood between the two academy sides following Chido Obi-Martin’s shock move to Man United after a record-breaking season for the Arsenal under-18s.
Nevertheless, the Hale End Academy still possesses a lot of top talent beyond the striker, and there are other Arsenal youngsters who will now step up.
Several academy starlets impressed in the first-team during pre-season, with Ethan Nwaneri the standout, but the midfielder was absent for the game at Meadow Park, indicating that he may have a part to play in Arsenal’s opening Premier League game against Wolves.
Arsenal played a strong side, and have recorded a very impressive victory against a tough United academy team.
Arsenal under-21s thrash Manchester United
Arsenal recorded a 4-2 victory, and astonishingly, they found themselves 4-0 up by half-time. Striker Khayon Edwards gave Arsenal the lead in the 16th minute, finishing from an excellent cross by Ismael Kabia.
Midfielder Michael Rosiak doubled the lead in the 35th minute, and his side were rampant. Nathan Butler-Oyedeji then added a third just two minutes later after a clever assist by the impressive Myles Lewis-Skelly.
In the 43rd minute Edwards doubled his own tally to make it 4-0 after a superb first half display.
Man United came firing out the blocks in the second half, and Ethan Ennis made it 4-1 in the 47th minute.
United midfielder Ethan Williams then received a straight red card for catching Ayden Heaven in an off-ball incident, but Ethan Wheatley pulled another goal back for the visitors late on.
Myles Lewis-Skelly and other Arsenal youngsters impressed in Man United victory
It was a superb victory overall from the Arsenal under-21s, and there were plenty of positives for manager Mehmet Ali to take.
Lewis-Skelly put in some outstanding pre-season performances, but having played against United, it seems unlikely that he will join the first-team against Wolves.
The 17-year-old continued playing as an inverted left-back, and pushed forward well as he grabbed himself an assist, with it clear that he is to develop in this position.
Josh Nichols and Heaven both had impressive moments with the first-team in pre-season, and both clearly benefitted from the experience as they looked confident at the back and driving forward with the ball.
It was the perfect start to the season for the Arsenal under-21s, who will travel to Wolves next Friday.
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