Adam Birchall’s subs fire Arsenal U18s to comeback win over Norwich

Arsenal U18s began their U18 Premier League South campaign with a 2-1 victory over Norwich City at the Colney Training Centre on Saturday afternoon.

The young Gunners got off to a flying start with Alex Marciniak forcing goalkeeper Luis Lines to make a save inside three minutes, and Brando Bailey-Joseph suffered the same fate two minutes later.

Marciniak came close to giving the away side the lead, firing an ambitious shot across goal just wide of the far post.

Despite Adam Birchall’s side’s dominance, the Canaries took the lead in the 32nd minute, when Finley Corke scored from a rebound after goalkeeper Jack Porter had saved Sinclair-Brown’s header from a corner.

Before the end of the first half, Kyran Thompson almost put Arsenal back on level terms, while Reece Wilkes nearly doubled the home side’s lead.

The two sides started the second half frenetically, with Porter making an excellent save to deny Finlay Oligbo from giving Norwich a two-goal cushion before Arsenal’s Josiah King was denied by the woodwork.

Birchall made a triple substitution after the hour mark, introducing Ceadach O’Neill, Teshaun Murisa and Maalik Hashi, and his decision proved to be a masterstroke.

In the 84th minute, O’Neill levelled the scores for the young Gunners, slotting the ball home after receiving a pass from Murisa.

Hashi sealed the victory a minute before full-time, putting the ball into the empty net after O’Neill’s effort was saved.

Arsenal were one of the six sides to record a victory in the division’s opening matchday. Crystal Palace were the biggest winners, recording an 8-0 victory at Birmingham City.

Arsenal return to action next Saturday, hosting Southampton at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.

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