Our under-21s advanced to the quarter-finals of the Premier League 2 Division One play-offs with a 6-2 win at home to Manchester United on Friday night.
A flurry of first-half goals from Nathan Butler-Oyedeji (twice), Jack Henry-Francis and Amario Cozier-Duberry saw us lead by four at the break, and a second-half Ethan Nwaneri penalty made sure of the win, Sam Mather grabbing a consolation goal for United. Cozier-Duberry added his second in stoppage time and Gabrielle Biancheri pulled another back for the visitors.
It was the visitors who began the game looking more likely to find the breakthrough as Ovie Ejeheri got down to catch a long-range effort from Ethan Williams, before our goalkeeper then punched away a dangerous free-kick.
But we didn’t take long to find our rhythm and, in the 14th minute, it was 1-0 to The Arsenal as Cozier-Duberry drifted in from the right and played a straight pass through to Butler-Oyedeji. His first shot was blocked, but he picked out the bottom left corner on the rebound.
Our second goal was the most satisfying to watch from a team perspective. Nwaneri drilled the ball out right to Cozier-Duberry who in turn shifted it forward for Reuell Walters on the overlap. His cross was perfect for Jack Henry-Francis to find the bottom left corner for 2-0.
It was 3-0 three minutes later as Cozier-Duberry smashed the ball in off the crossbar on his right foot from a slightly narrow angle.
He then almost created another for Butler-Oyedeji, who lifted the ball over Dermot Mee but saw it cleared off the line.
Capping off a brilliant first-half display, James Sweet carried the ball forward and sent it through to Butler-Oyedeji to run onto. He timed his run to perfection, allowing him to round the keeper and find the back of the net.
Nwaneri shot straight at Mee after a clever one-two with Sweet on the brink of half-time and we went into the break full of confidence.
We started the second half in similar fashion, full of attacking intent as Nwaneri struck the post after the ball was won high up the pitch by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Nwaneri did then get his goal after being brought down in the penalty area and converting from the spot, shooting to the keeper’s left.
Mehmet Ali made his first change with just over half an hour to go, Josh Nichols coming on for Zane Monlouis.
United pulled one back in the 66th minute as Mather whipped a free-kick over the wall and into the bottom left corner for 5-1.
Gower’s free-kick was blocked as we looked for a sixth, but he lifted the rebound over the United defence and Butler-Oyedeji struck the side netting.
We made two further changes with seven minutes to go, Elian Quesada-Thorn and Osman Kamara coming on for Nwaneri and Ismeal Kabia respectively.
Our sixth goal came in the first minute of added time as Ayden Heaven played a long ball over the top for Cozier-Duberry, who began his run in our half so was not onside. He took a heavy touch to put plenty of pace on the ball and then lifted it past Mee.
Mather then went on a mazy solo run and almost found the finish but Ejeheri was on hand to deny him.
Gabrielle Biancheri squeezed the ball across the line late on for a second United goal.
What’s next
We will face the winner of Chelsea in the quarter-finals at Meadow Park. The game is scheduled to take place between Friday, May 10 and Monday, May 13. Full details will be announced in due course.
Team sheet
Arsenal XI: Ejeheri, Walters, Sweet, Monlouis (Nichols 59), Heaven, Lewis-Skelly, Cozier-Duberry, Henry-Francis (Gower 66), Butler-Oyedeji, Nwaneri (Quesada-Thorn 83), Kabia (Kamara 83).
Substitutes not used: Okonkwo.
Manchester United XI: Mee, Kingdon, Bennett, Aljofree, Murray, Collyer (Devaney 58), Oyedele, Williams (Kamason 75), Mather, Scanlon (Biancheri 58), McNeill (Curley 75).
Substitutes not used: Huddlestone.
Copyright 2024 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.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
