Report – Ceadach O’Neill scores brace as Arsenal U18s beat Peterborough in Premier League Cup

U18 Premier League Cup

Arsenal 4 (Marciniak 5, O’Neill 56, 61, Bailey-Joseph 83) Peterborough United 0

Ceadach O’Neill scored a brace as Arsenal U18s commenced their Premier League Cup campaign with a 4-0 victory at home to Peterborough United today.

O’Neill, who was again deployed as a striker, has now scored four goals in three matches this season in all competitions.

Coach Adam Birchall made two changes to the starting lineup, with Kyran Thompson and Sam Chapman coming in for Maalik Hashi and Theo Julienne.

As has been a common theme so far this season there was some positional rotation with captain Callan Hamill, who usually plays at right-back, deployed in midfield.

Porter

King-Chapman-Onyekachukwu-Ogunnaike

Murisa

Hamill-Marciniak

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Subs: Julienne (for Marciniak, 46), Hashi (for Onyekachukwu, 46), Phillips (for O’Neill, 62), Tahou (for Ogunnaike, 69). Not used: Talbot.

Arsenal took the lead in the fifth minute with Alex Marciniak finding the net after being located by Josiah King.

Birchall made a double change at the break as Julienne and Hashi entered the fray in place of Marciniak and Samuel Onyekachukwu.

O’Neill then took centre stage and doubled Arsenal’s lead just before the hour mark after being set up by Brando Bailey-Joseph.

Just five minutes later O’Neill netted again, with schoolboy Thompson the architect on this occasion.

Bowen Phillips then replaced O’Neill to make his first competitive appearance for the U18s.

Josh Tahou subsequently came on for Josh Ogunnaike and Bailey-Joseph rounded off the scoring in the 83rd minute.

Norwich City and Stoke City are the other two teams in Arsenal’s group.

Arsenal return to league action on Saturday when they face Birmingham City away.