Nigerian Prodigy On Target As Chelsea Beat Arsenal To Win FA Youth Cup

Arsenal were taught a proper footballing lesson by Chelsea at their own background in their FA Youth Cup final return fixture on Monday evening, succumbing to a 4-0 defeat to lose out on the trophy on a 7-1 aggregate loss.

Arsenal quartet of Joseph Olowu, Bukayo Saka, James Olayinka and Xavier Amaechi were all in the Gunners line up at the Emirates stadium while Faustino Anjorin and Folarin Balogun were named among the substitutes for their sides.

Tobi Omole and Arthur Okonkwo were conspicuously missing out of the matchday squad for Arsenal as was Tariq Uwakwe for Chelsea.

Amaechi looked lively in the opening exchanges and tested Cumming a couple of times but, Arsenal otherwise failed to make their chances count.

Billy Gilmour lashed home from the edge of the area to put Chelsea ahead in the first period and 4-1 up on aggregate.

Saka nearly equalized for Arsenal immediately after the intermission, hooking his effort towards goal but somehow flicked it just wide.

However, it soon turned it into a rout for Arsenal as Chelsea's Nigerian starlet, Anjorin who came on for Conor Gallagher added the Blues third to go with Callum Hudson-Odoi's double as the Blues marched onto the title in grand style.

Balogun replaced Amaechi for Arsenal in the second period but would not prevent his side from the crushing defeat.

With the result, Chelsea are thus, crowned the winners of the competition for the fifth time in a row, equaling the record set by Manchester United in the 1950s.

Emmanuel Chinaza

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com