Arsenal U18s won for the third game in a row on Saturday as they saw off Brighton 3-1 at London Colney to move up to 3rd in the table.
Three changes were made to the XI that started last week against Norwich, with Marcus Tabi replaced by Josh DaSilva in midfield, Tolaji Bola replaced by Ilias Chatzitheodoridis in defence and Eddie Nketiah replaced by Reiss Nelson in attack.
Within two minutes, Arsenal had the lead through the simplest of goals. DaSilva was playing in a deeper role than usual, and used the extra space to play a simple long ball over the top of the Brighton defence to put Tyrell Robinson in the clear. Robinson missed a sitter late on at Norwich last week but this time produced a fine finish high into the net.
However, Brighton were quickly level. Rian O’Sullivan played a simple cross into the Arsenal penalty area from the left-hand side and Luis Garcia found space in between defenders to turn in the equaliser.
DaSilva had an effort comfortably saved before half-time, but ten minutes after the break, Arsenal did regain the lead. After a period of intense pressure, Robinson picked the ball up just outside the penalty area before driving a low shot into the corner of the net past the despairing Robert Sanchez for his second of the game.
Brighton could twice have levelled afterwards: first a poor pass from Pileas gave Garcia a chance but Ryan Huddart was down quickly to save before a scramble in the penalty area saw Huddart deny substitute Alex Cochrane and Max Sanders screw a shot wide when well placed.
Arsenal wrapped up the win with two minutes remaining when, after good work from Vlad Dragomir, Danny Barker gave the ball away on the edge of his own penalty area to Yassin Fortune and the French striker beat one defender before placing the ball past Sanchez.
Next up for Arsenal U18s is a trip to 10th placed West Ham next Saturday; before then, the U21s will play for the first time in nearly two months on Friday the 20th against Stoke and the U19s will seek to confirm their qualification to the next round of the UEFA Youth League against Dinamo Zagreb on the 24th.
