Arsenal U21 4-1 Newcastle United U21: Premier League 2 report by Layth Yousif

First half goals from Seb Ferdinand, Khayon Edwards and Osman Kamara put the home side in a dominant position at the break on a wet and windy Friday evening at Meadow Park.

With the match practically won after a lively opening 45 minutes, the visitors grabbed a consolation through Magpies No9 Jay Turner-Cooke, who fired past Tommy Setford in the Gunners goal.

That was before the mercurial Salah Oulad M’Hand fired home a superb direct free-kick to underline the Gunners superiority, which also saw Kamara hit the post.

Find out who impressed with our Gooner Fanzine Player Ratings from Boreham Wood

Player Ratings:

Tommy Setford: 6/10 - A quiet evening for the keeper who made his first team debut when Arsenal beat Preston 3-0 in the League Cup. Needs to work on his distribution and handling - as underlined when he completely missed a cross from Newcastle No9 Jay Turner-Cooke. Redeemed himself somewhat when turning away a Newcastle header moments later to keep the ball out

Michal Rosiak: 7/10 -The Arsenal right-back and dead ball specialist went close early on when he lifted the ball over the wall from his free-kick, but Newcastle keeper James Taylor was equal to the task

Josh Nichols: 7.5/10 - Offered a threat as an attacking presence when supplementing colleagues further forward. Deserved his hearty round of applause while being replaced late on by Josh Ogunnaike:

Marli Salmon: 7/10 - Unfortunate to concede Newcastle’s late penalty to marr an encouraging performance

Will Sweet: 7.5/10 - A solid performance in the heart of the Young Guns backline

Jack Henry-Francis: 7.5/10 - Thrives in the heart of battle and relishes cold, wet and windy conditions - with nights such as this his speciality

Osman Kamara: 7.5/10 - The No7 thudded the Newcastle post before the ball was cleared underlining the home side’s first half dominance

Jimi Gower: 7.5/10 - Excellent in tight spaces as he attempted to drive Arsenal on

Khayon Edwards: 8/10 - Good to see an Arsenal striker fit and firing as the No9 showed his predatory instincts by following up Salah’s shot that spilled to him in the pouring rain

Salah Oulad M’Hand: 8.10 - Creative talent who dovetailed well with the marauding Seb Ferdinand along the right flank. 27th minute shot was parried by Newcastle keeper Taylor before striker Edwards followed up to make it 2-0 A cracking effort to make it four for the Gunners with a superb direct free-kick which flew past Taylor

Seb Ferdinand: 8/10 - Originally listed as a substitute with the No12 shirt, Charles Sagoe Jnr pulled out of the starting XI shortly before kick-off, leaving the talented Watford-born 19-year-old to start in his place. A good job too as the powerful right-sided attacker slotted home from close range early on, while always threatening the Magpies backline

Substitutes:

Josh Ogunnaike: 7.5/10 - On for Josh Nicols late on

Charles Sagoe Jnr: Injured in the warm up