U18 Premier League
Arsenal 3 (Saka 86, Lyons-Foster (o.g.) 87, Cottrell 90) Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Maghoma 6, White 34 (pen))
Arsenal U18s went into this crucial clash against their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur knowing that they had to win to realistically remain in with a chance of securing the southern division title.
The young Gunners managed to do that in incredible circumstances as they came from 2-0 down to prevail with a 3-2 victory, Ben Cottrell scoring the decisive goal.
Arsenal’s fate is now in their own hands – win against Reading and Fulham and they will claim the regional title for the first time in nine years.
As a measure of the importance of this game, coach Ken Gillard started Tyreece John-Jules, while Bukayo Saka and Xavier Amaechi were on the bench, with the latter, a mainstay for the U23s, receiving his first call-up for a league game at this level this season.
T. Smith
Daley Campbell-McGuinness-Clarke-Swanson
M. Smith-Cottrell
Greenwood-John Jules-Coyle
Balogun
Subs: Saka (for Coyle, 59), Amaechi (for Greenwood, 59), Azeez (for Swanson, 75). Not used: Okonkwo, Ogungbo.
Both teams had been in excellent form going into this game, but something had to give in this titanic top of the table tussle.
For much of the game it looked as if Tottenham would prevail.
The visitors played some impressive football and took the lead after just six minutes courtesy of Paris Maghoma.
It was then 2-0 before the break, with Harvey White scoring from the penalty spot.
Crucially, however, Tottenham were reduced to ten men just before the break when Luis Binks was dismisssed, and that provided Arsenal with a platform to get back into the game.
Just before the hour mark Gillard threw on Saka and Amaechi, and later introduced talented schoolboy Miguel Azeez as Arsenal adopted a mindset that was fully focused on attacking.
It seemed as if Tottenham would stand firm but eventually they crumbled, with Saka finding the net in the 86th minute.
There was a further boost for Arsenal in the closing stages when Brooklyn Lyons-Foster inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, making it 2-2.
Amazingly, there was further drama to come and Cottrell, who has enjoyed a superb first season as a scholar, was the hero as he scored in stoppage time.
The celebrations were wild, Tottenham were dejected and Arsenal edged closer to the title.
Gillard’s hugely impressive team are now four points clear of Tottenham.
Although their rivals have a game in hand, all Arsenal must do is focus on themselves. Win their last two games and the regional title is theirs, which would set up an in intriguing clash with the northern winners in the final.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 