U18s report: Arsenal 1-0 Southampton

Our young Gunners found their first U18 Premier League South victory of the campaign with a 1-0 win at home to Southampton.

A so-far faultless Saints side came unstuck when Maalik Hashi put us in front early on, before a tight, goalless second half saw us hold on to claim all three points.

FIRST HALF

We made a positive start and took the lead on the quarter-hour mark when Hashi drove forward, cut inside onto his left foot and tucked a fine finish into the bottom corner via the post.

Our pressure continued through good link-up play between Luis Munoz and Hakeem Abubakar on the edge of the Saints’ box, with the latter playing a neat cutback to Jaden Maghoma, who was unable to keep his shot below the crossbar.

Hashi came close to doubling our advantage on the stroke of half-time, benefiting from a smart ball in the visitors' area before firing across the target, but his effort struck the wrong side of the woodwork and was cleared away.

SECOND HALF

Munoz looked determined to continue our strong first-half performance with a pair of long-range efforts, but neither troubled George Moloney in the Southampton net.

The Hampshire side began to grow into the affair from the hour mark onwards, as Walter Nutter forced Jack Porter into a diving save to keep us in front.

As we headed into the final minutes with our slender lead still intact, Munoz sent Hashi through with just the goalkeeper to beat, but the Saints stopper produced a good save to deny us some breathing space.

Porter was called into action late on when a short back pass allowed Ralph Brockway through on goal, but our no. 1 read the move well and was quick off his line to thwart the danger, ensuring our young Gunners claimed their first win of the season.

WHAT IT MEANS

Our first three points of the campaign see us climb into 10th place.

WHAT'S NEXT

We're back in U18 Premier League South action at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, September 12.

Kick-off at the Sobha Realty Training Centre is scheduled for 11am (UK time).

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Porter, Hamill (Sampang 45), Abubakar, McCarron, Mbala, Murisa, Sesay (Phillips 60), Purdy (Owusu-Gyasi 71), Maghoma, Hashi, Munoz.

Subs: Lupinski, Stachow, Arteta, Frohock.

Southampton XI: Moloney, Wells, Vallance, Martin (Afzal 45), Sewell, Nutter, Comley (Fletcher 60), Lovatt (Bariami 71), Kuzanga, Brockway, Parry.

Subs: Richardson, Lemon, Robinson.