Ethan Nwaneri starred as Arsenal U18s beat Millwall U18s 6-0 to reach the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup at a wet and windy Meadow Park on Monday evening.
Jack Wilshere’s talented young guns eased past Larry McAvoy and Chris Perry’s overrun youngsters from south-east London.
The seven-time Youth Cup winners posted their biggest win in the competition since beating Crawley 9-0 back in 2003 as they dominated from start to finish.
A strong Gunners side was captained by Bradley Ibrahim who Mikel Arteta included in his squad to travel to Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
The starting IX also featured Amario Cozier-Duberry who impressed in a lively cameo during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by Juventus at the Emirates - as well as the imperious Reuell Walters at No5 who improves in muscularity as much as in performance every time he appears in the red and white.
The home side wasted no time in going 1-0 ahead, through No10 Jimi Gower, who fired home emphatically in a crowded box.
The lead was soon doubled by Premier League teen starlet Nwaneri, through a cracking strike that showcased his burgeoning technique.
Right-back Michal Rosiak made it 3-0 shortly afterwards as the commanding Gunners made light of the difficult conditions.
Cozier-Duberry fired home with aplomb after the interval to move the score to 4-0 before Gunners No9 Omari Benjamin grabbed a brace as the clock ticked down.
Wilshere’s side will now face a far tougher test with a trip to Newcastle in the fourth round of the tournament.
However, if their performance matches the levels they displayed on a sodden evening in Borehamwood then even the Geordie moneybags should be concerned.
FT: Arsenal U18s 6-0 Millwall U18s. A dominant performance by the young guns to ease through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup here at Meadow Park. Good to note another excellent performance from Ethan Nwaneri among many others in red and white pic.twitter.com/941rF4Hqv0
— Layth (@laythy29) December 19, 2022
Arsenal U18s: Starting XI Player Ratings:
Noah Cooper: 8/10
Michal Rosiak: 8.5/10
Elian Quesada-Thorn: 8/10
Joshua Robinson: 8/10
Reuell Walters: 9/10
Bradley Ibrahim: 8/10
Ethan Nwaneri: 9/10
Myles Lewis-Skelly: 8/10
Omari Benjamin: 8.5/10
Jimi Gower: 8.5/10
Amario Cozier-Dubbery: 8.5/10