Report – Schoolboy Kyran Thompson scores brace as Arsenal U18s beat Ipswich

U18 Premier League

Arsenal 4 (O’Neill 12, Thompson 49, 71, Bailey-Joseph 78) Ipswich Town 2 (Pedder 33, Brown 59)

Schoolboy Kyran Thompson scored his first goals for the U18s as Arsenal won 4-2 at home to Ipswich Town to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Goalkeeper Remi Lupinski, who joined the club in the summer, started in goal. Josiah King also returned to the team and was deployed as a winger.

Former Arsenal player Jayden Adetiba started for Ipswich.

Lupinski

Hamill-Onyekachukwu-Chapman-Ogunnaike

Murisa

Hashi-Julienne

King-O’Neill-Bailey Joseph

Subs: Thompson (for O’Neill, 46), Marciniak (for Chapman, 46), Talbot (for Lupinski, 77), Tahou (for Bailey-Joseph, 86). Not used: B. Phillips.

Arsenal took the lead in the 12th minute as Ceadach O’Neill maintained his excellent form in front of goal by finding the net.

However, the two sides were level at the break after Indiana Pedder equalised for Ipswich.

Arsenal made a double change ahead of the second half with Thompson and Alex Marciniak replacing O’Neill and Sam Chapman.

Thompson made an instant impact as he restored Arsenal’s lead four minutes into the second half after being found by Josh Ogunnaike.

Ipswich again responded as Archie Brown equalised.

Thompson scored what proved to be the decisive goal as he made it 3-2 to Arsenal after good work from King.

Lupinski had to be replaced in goal by Jack Talbot but Arsenal still managed to add another goal courtesy of Brando Bailey-Joseph, who was set up by Marciniak.

Arsenal were reduced to ten men when Ogunnaike was sent off late on for a second bookable offence but the young Gunners still managed to prevail and are top of the southern section table.