2 hours ago 1

Arsenal u18s win 4-2 to go top of the league

The Arsenal u18s won against Ipswich Town to stay top of the u18 Premier League South on Saturday, with youngster Kyran Thompson scoring a brace.

Photo by David Price via Getty Images

After three wins in three to kick off the season, the Arsenal u18s secured a commendable draw against Chelsea last weekend, coming from behind to end the day with the point they needed to stay top of the table.

But with Crystal Palace winning against Reading on Saturday morning to go top themselves, only a win over Ipswich Town would take the young Gunners back to the summit.

Summer signing Remi Lupinski was handed his Arsenal debut in goal, whilst Ceadach O’Neill dropped back to the u18s after a couple of recent appearances for the u21s and u19s.

Photo via O’Neill on Instagram

It was O’Neill who gave Arsenal the lead with a near-post finish from a Brando Bailey-Joseph assist in the 12th minute, notching his fifth direct goal contribution in six games for the academy this season. But the Gunners went in level at the break thanks to Indiana Pedder’s equaliser.

Highly-rated youngster Kyran Thompson is still eligible for the Arsenal u16s by age, but he made his fifth appearance of the season for the Arsenal u18s in this game.

Coming on as a half-time substitute, he scored his first goal for the team for 2-1 shortly after the break.

Once again, Ipswich drew level through Archie Brown, and once again, Thompson gave Arsenal the lead in the 72nd minute, assisted by a strong solo run from recent England u17 debutant Josiah King.

Photo via Thompson on Instagram

Arsenal made sure of the three points with a goal from Bailey-Joseph in the 78th minute, set up by Alex Marciniak through a set-piece routine, but there was still a late scare to come.

Josh Ogunnaike was dismissed in the 85th minute for his second yellow card of the game, which was his fifth yellow in five matches this season. Arsenal had to hold onto their lead with 10 men, and they did so to end the weekend back on top of the league standings.