Player Ratings: Hertford Town 3-4 Arsenal U18s

Find out which Young Guns impressed during Arsenal U18s enthralling 4-3 victory over battling Hertford Town 

Drama here as the referee has handed Arsenal U18s keeper Jack Porter a red card for what I can only deduce has been over celebrating at the final whistle after the visitors beat @HertfordTownFC 4-3 pic.twitter.com/elsdDaFsKj

— Layth (@laythy29) December 3, 2024

Player Ratings:

Jack Porter: 5/10 - Young prospect already with a first team debut under his belt having featured for Mikel Arteta’s starting XI during the 5-1 rout of League One side Bolton Wanderers in front of nearly 60,000 at the Emirates back in September. Yet places such as Hertford Town are where the promising 16-year-old will learn his trade. Displayed solid handling and distribution throughout, but given no chance by Finley Lynch for his second half penalty - blotted his copybook by being sent off after the whistle for what lookd like overzealous celebrations. Will learn from the experience 

Theo Juliene: 7/10 - Not afraid to play the ball long when required and dovetailed well with Louis Zecevic-John further forward

William Lannin-Sweet: 6.5/10 - Struggled to cope with the pace, attacking intent and tenacity from the home side’s extremely impessive Riley Carr – no wonder there was a scout from Newcastle watching the Hertford youngster

Samuel Onyekachkwu: 7.5/10 - Solid and reliable and will have learned plenty against hungry and talented non-league youngsters

Brayden Clarke: 6.5/10 -Needed to be more decisive when the ball was played into the box. Especially fortunate when Hertford’s lively Finley Lynch got ahead of the young guns No5 to brush the post from left-back George Andreou’s cross

Ife Ibrahim: 7/10 -A calm head and good technique. Intelligent use of the ball at times

Louis Zecevic-John: 6.5/10 - Engaged in an absorbing duel with Hertford left-back George Andreous and was a constant threat down the right flank - even if the rapid No7 didn’t always deliver thanks to the opposition’s diligence and tenacity, especially when doubling – or even tripling up on the young attacker

Louie Copley: 7.5/10 - The Young Guns No8 made it three for the visitors as Adam Birchall’s side netted two in as many minutes shortly before half time to deflate home hopes at a packed Hertingfordbury Park

Andre Harriman-Annous: 7.5/10 - Showed composure to slot home for his side’s opening goal at a packed Hertingfordbury Park on seven minutes

Dan Casey: 8/10 - Lively, but more composure required at critical moments, as underlined when the young No10 fired high over the bar when well-placed on the quarter hour mark. Ceded possession too many times both in attack and defensively but redeemed himself when slotting home to make it 2-1 before the interval prior to adding a fourth for Arsenal, on top of an assist too

Ceadach O’Neill: 6.5/10 - Wasteful on set pieces and lacked composure when through on goal at times