U-18s: Arsenal 3-0 Norwich City - Report

WHAT HAPPENED

Our under-18s secured a vital three points against Norwich City with goals from Folarin Balogun, Danny Ballard and Matt Smith.

We took short time to open the scoring at London Colney, when Zak Swanson set up Balogun, who beat Ryan Dickerson with a low effort across the goalkeeper.

We soon doubled our lead shortly after through Ballard, who rose up at a corner to meet Josh Benson’s delivery and glance the ball in.

Shortly before half-time we almost made it 3-0, when Balogun poked in Xavier Amaechi’s saved effort, but it was ruled out for offside.

In the final minute of the game we did add a third, this time through Matt Smith, who brilliantly controlled James Olayinka’s lobbed through ball, shook off his man and blasted the ball past Dickerson.

Following the game, head coach Kwame Ampadu spoke with Arsenal Player and said: “It was a bit of a rusty performance, we haven’t played in a couple of weeks. There will be some changes to the team and we’ve had boys coming back from injury as well.

“It’s fantastic [for Balgoun to score] I’m delighted for him. In and around the box and again trusting his left foot, improving with his left foot and the swivel-finish, it was very good.”

WHAT IT MEANS

Victory means that we stay in fourth place, inside the chasing pack behind league leaders Chelsea. Fulham sit in third on 17, just a point ahead of us and Leicester City in second through goal difference.

WHAT’S NEXT

Up next for Kwame Ampadu’s side are Tottenham, who visit us on November 25.