U18 Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur 9 (Richards 28, 31, Markanday 33, 55, Griffiths 49, 69 (pen), 71, 89, Ogungbo (o.g.) 70) Arsenal 0
A depleted Arsenal U18 side were humiliated away to their rivals Tottenham Hotspur today as they suffered a 9-0 defeat – one of the worst results in their history.
Coach Kwame Ampadu rested a host of players ahead of Friday’s FA Youth Cup semi-final, first leg encounter away to Chelsea, but this was still an unacceptable result and performance from an Arsenal team that were woeful defensively.
Arsenal ran out 6-0 winners when these sides met at London Colney earlier in the campaign but Tottenham certainly managed to avenge that defeat and inflict even more damage on the young Gunners today.
Joao Virginia, Vontae Daley-Campbell, Danny Ballard, Zech Medley, Dominic Thompson, James Olayinka, Emile Smith Rowe, Xavier Amaechi, Robbie Burton, Tyreece John-Jules, Folarin Balogun, Trae Coyle and Bukayo Saka all weren’t involved with the clash with Chelsea in mind.
Jay Beckford returned to the starting lineup after a trial spell with Bolton Wanderers, while Mark McGuinness was also called upon along with schoolboys Armstrong Okoflex and Miguel Azeez.
Barden
Clarke-McGuinness-Spencer Adams-Omole
M. Smith-Azeez
Beckford-McEneff-Swanson
Okoflex
Subs: Flaherty (for M. Smith, 63), Ogungbo (for Omole, 69), Olowu (for Swanson, 71). Not used: Okonkwo, Cottrell.
Arsenal managed to withstand the Tottenham pressure in the early exchanges but the hosts eventually took the lead through Rodel Richards in the 28th minute.
The floodgates subsequently opened, with Richards quickly adding to his tally before Dilan Markanday also struck before the break to give Tottenham a comfortable lead.
The misery continued into the second half for Arsenal, who were woeful defensively, with the lively Reo Griffiths making it 4-0 and Markanday getting on the scoresheet again as Gunners goalkeeper Daniel Barden endured a very difficult day.
Griffiths scored from the penalty spot with Arsenal then introducing U15 defender Mazeed Ogungbo for his debut in an attempt to limit Tottenham’s threat.
The change certainly didn’t have the desired effect, however, as just a minute after coming on, Ogungbo inadvertently turned the ball into his own net and added to Tottenham’s lead.
There was more pain to come as Griffiths scored his third and fourth goals of the game with Tottenham eventually running out 9-0 winners.
This is a scoreline that will undoubtedly generate major headlines and, while there were some mitigating circumstances, it was still a woeful performance from Arsenal.
Arsenal didn’t field a very inexperienced team, with the majority of the starting lineup full-time scholars, while they called upon two second-years in Beckford and captain Tobi Omole.
This is the worst result that Arsenal have suffered at youth level since the 10-1 loss to Aston Villa reserves in 2011 and it shows that, while there has been much to celebrate recently with the U23s winning the league and further success possibly to follow, there is still much work for the academy to do overall.
Some of the players on show today simply aren’t good enough and have little or no chance of making it at the club in the future.
There are, though, still some individuals who started today who are very highly regarded and could thrive playing alongside better players.
This is not a result that will be forgotten in a hurry but it shouldn’t have much of an impact on Arsenal’s preparations for the Youth Cup final as the majority of the players involved today won’t play at Stamford Bridge.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 
Not only the players, but the coaches have to take a long hard look at themselves.
Even with a weakened team, you shouldn’t be conceding 9 goals in a match, it smacks of poor preparation, poor organisation and a lack of discipline and pride.
Big chance for some youngsters to play for the first team against Utd this weekend? Surely many 1st team players will be rested for the return leg against Atletico. Who do you expect to see?