Eddie Nketiah continued his superb recent run with two more goals as Arsenal under-18s came from behind to win 4-1 away to Sunderland in their penultimate game of the season.
The Wearsiders started much the better side and converted their dominance into a goal early on. Defensive mistakes have been a recurring storyline for Arsenal at youth level this season, and there was no exception here. There looked to be little danger as Sunderland played a hopeful long ball but Gunners’ defender Kristopher Da Graca completely misjudged the bounce of the ball, allowing Joel Asoro to rifle a shot into the bottom corner.
Sunderland continued to be on the front foot and could have been further behind when Daniel Pybus found space in the penalty area but his turn and shot was comfortably saved by Joao Virginia. Nketiah and Josh DaSilva both shot wide as Arsenal began to gain a foothold before half-time, and they were rewarded with an equaliser before the interval. Aaron Eyoma slipped the ball through for Vlad Dragomir, who recently signed his professional contract, and the Romanian crossed in for Nketiah to volley into the bottom corner.
After the break, Arsenal completely dominated and midway through the second-half they took the lead with a goal of real quality. A superb move between Eyoma, Reiss Nelson and Donyell Malen ended with Eyoma squaring the ball for Nketiah to tap in his 21st goal in the under-18 league this season: more than anyone else in the division.
Victory was sealed just a few minutes later when the Sunderland defence failed to cut out a simple ball forward and the prodigiously talented Nelson raced clear and calmly slotted past James Talbot to give Arsenal an unassailable 3-1 lead.
There was even still time for Malen to end a flowing counter-attack by rounding Talbot from Nketiah’s pass to score his 14th goal of the season in all competitions; not bad for a debut season after his summer move from Ajax.
Arsenal under-18s finish their season at home to Tottenham this Saturday, before the under-21s take on Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates as they seek to gain promotion through the play-offs.
In other academy related news, under-18s coach Frans De Kat will leave the club at the end of the season to take up a role with the Dutch FA. Assistant coach Kwame Ampadu would be favourite to take his place, though Thierry Henry or possibly even Mikel Arteta could be in the frame. Meanwhile, left back Ilias Chatzitheodoridis, who has struggled since joining the club last summer, will also leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. He is currently on trial at Norwich City.
