West Ham United U18 beat Arsenal U18 5-1 to lift the 2023 FA Youth Cup final at the Emirates on Tuesday.

An eighth minute goal from 17-year-old Omari Benjamin put the Gunners 1-0 ahead on a sunny evening in North London.

However, the joy was short-lived as Irons No8 George Earthy fired home an excellent long range strike to leave Gunners keeper Noah Cooper with no chance, as the visitors levelled to make it 1-1 after 16 minutes. 

Worse was to follow for Jack Wilshere's side as Marshall slottted home from close range after being teed up by West Ham captain Kouda to make the score 2-1 a mere 120 seconds later. 

Kouda display further quality when his 40 yard effort flew over the despairing Cooper and into the net three minutes before half time to make the score 3-1 to Kevin Keen's Young Irons - sending the 7,000 travelling Eastenders into raptures in the club's first Youth Cup final since 1999, when Keen starred alongside Michael Carrick and Joe Cole. 

Second half:

The Gunners came out with plenty to play for and battled gamely against an excellent West ham side. As the clock ticked down with the game practically won, Irons No6 Casey steered the ball past Arsenal keeper Cooper to make it 4-1 and seal the coveted silverware in front of their vociferous supporters massed behind the goal.

There was still time for Josh Briggs to make it 5-1 in front of an attendance of 34,127 (tickets sold).

The Road to the Final

Wilshere's talented young side won through to the showpiece final after beating Millwall 6-0 in round one, prior to winning at St James's Park, when edging a young Newcastle United side 3-2 in January.

The side then staged a thrilling comeback from 2-0 down to beat Watford 4-2 at Vicarage Road, powered by two penalties from the lively Amari Cozier-Duberry. The promising academy side came back from 2-1 down to beat Cambridge United 3-2 at the Emirates in front of more than 8,000 fans. 

Wilshere's braves left it late in the tense semi-final when they beat Manchester City's ten players with a last-gasp Myles Lewis-Skelly goal in the 122nd minute, following more than two hours of top quality, top level academy football. 

Read on to find out who impressed with our Player Ratings at half time and full time from the Emirates: 

Arsenal Player Ratings:

Noah Cooper: 5/10 - A first half to forget with the young keeper shipping three goals to the East Londoners including Kouda's 40 yard effort moments before the interval 

Michal Rosiak: 5.5/10 - Irons keeper Mason Terry made an excellent save from the Polish full-back's early free-kick as the dangerous defender failed to add to his collection of cup goals following his deadball strike against Manchester City in the last four 

Lino Sousa: 5/10 - Another who has performed exceptionally well to have caught the eye of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, so much so as to have been included in first team squads. Will be disappointed with his first half display as part of the backline that shipped three goals to the Irons 

Robinson: 5/10 - Disappointing 

Reuell Walters: 5.5/10 - The former Peckham Town defender has been a revelation this season and is a player with a hugely promising future if he keeps working ahrd and improving. Will be slightly disappointed with his first hafl performance, but won't be the only one - and will be far better for the experience 

Bradley Ibrahim (c): 5/10 - Has come a long way since he was sent off for the U18s in a pre-season friendly at Hendon last July. Evidence of his progress has been his inclusion in Mikel Arteta's first team Europa League squads, including the 1-0 victory in Norway at Bodo/Glimt

Amari Cozier-Duberry: 6/10 - A lively performance from the promising attacker who has played a prominent role in helping his side to the final, including two calmly taken penalties as Arsenal powered back from 2-0 at Vicarage Road to beat Watford 4-2 in the fifth round, but his efforts were not enough to influence the final

Myles Lewis-Skelly: 5/10 - Arsenal's saviour in the semi-finals with his last-gasp late winner against Manchester City battled hard to impose his will on the match, but wasn't as effective as he would have liked to have been 

Ethan Nwaneri: 5/10 -The Premier League starlet who made his debut for Mikel Arteta's first team in a cameo appearance at the end of Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Thomas Frank's Brentford last September was another in red and white who struggled to impose his will on the final

Jimi Gower: 5/10 - Hooked at the interval after 45 miserable minutes he would like to forget. However, he can be proud of his effrots in helping his side reach this showpiece final 

Omari Benjamin: 6/10 - Sent the home support into raptures early on here at the Emirates after his excellent strike put the Gunners 1-0 up to make it three goals in six matches in this competition

The entire crowd here at Arsenal sing: ‘Stand Up If You Hate Tottenham’ including the 7,000 travelling West Ham fans massed in the away end during the FA Youth Cup final here at the Emirates pic.twitter.com/IE8kmDpzsM

— Layth (@laythy29) April 25, 2023

Congratulations to West Ham U18s on winning the 2023 FA Youth Cup final after beating Arsenal U18 5-1 here at the Emirates pic.twitter.com/MWPNK8topV

— Layth (@laythy29) April 25, 2023

The beaten Arsenal U18 side receive their losers medals after West Ham U18s won 5-1 to win the 2023 FA Youth Cup final here at the Emirates pic.twitter.com/YY293rGyza

— Layth (@laythy29) April 25, 2023

 West Ham United Player Ratings:

Mason Terry 7.5

Ryan Battrum 7

Kaelen Casey 8

Regan Clayton 8

Ollie Scarles 8

Lewis Orford 8

George Earthy 8

Patrick Kelly 8

Gideon Kodua 9