Town’s U18s beat their Arsenal counterparts with a pulsating 3-2 victory at Playford Road on Saturday morning. Connor Wickham scored twice and Ronan Murray once.
The Blues fielded goalkeeper James Wood, the son of former Arsenal, Everton and Scotland stopper George. Wood junior, a Scottish U17 international although born in Wales, was previously at Cardiff City’s academy before signing a professional contract with Manchester City this summer.
Arsenal included a number of players on professional contracts who have also won international youth honours, including Luke Freeman, who signed from Gillingham after becoming the Gills’ youngest ever first team player and Emmanuel Frimpong who has made three senior appearances for The Gunners.
Arsenal took the lead after 13 minutes when midfielder Conor Henderson struck a sweet freekick past the motionless James Wood in the Town goal.
However, Town replied seven minutes later when Ronan Murray was left in acres of space at the back-post and the young Irish striker slotted past Gunners keeper James Dunne.
Arsenal right-back Danny Boateng picked up the game’s first booking on 26, with Chukwuemeka Aneke joining him in the book shortly after half-time.
Town’s youngsters took the lead on 52 when Connor Wickham went past numerous Arsenal defenders before beating Dunne.
The visitors were reduced to ten men on 62 minutes when Boateng received his second yellow card for a foul on Murray.
Freeman headed against Town’s crossbar after an inviting cross from Benik Afobe, before Wickham was booked for dissent.
Wickham scored his second on 75 when a long ball over the top from Wood was not dealt with by the Arsenal defence and the England youth international used his strength to hold off a challenging defender before deftly lobbing the ball over Dunne.
Arsenal pulled one back late on when substitute Jernade Meade got goal-side of young full-back Callum Bennett and hit a shot across Wood and into the corner of the net.
Wood was then cautioned for time wasting before the final whistle blew.
It was a thoroughly encouraging performance from Town’s youngsters who all gave 100% for the whole 90 minutes. Chris Kiwomya’s men outclassed Arsenal and thoroughly deserved their victory.
Meanwhile, former academy striker Jordan Rhodes, who one of Sunday's tabloids is linking with Stoke and Wolves, netted a hat-trick for League One Huddersfield as they defeated Exeter 4-0 to take his goals total to 11 for the season.
The game also saw another ex-Blues striker Marcus Stewart given a standing ovation by his old supporters when substituted in the second half. Stewart controversially joined the Blues from Huddersfield in February 2000 for £2.5 million.
U18s: Wood, Bennett, Dunbar (Whight 61), Hyam, Meekings, Eastman, Clark (Brandon 61), Cawley, Wickham, Murray (Butcher 80) and Lavery. Unused: Jones and Traynier.
Report by James Ager.