Arsenal of England youth team player, Miguel Azeez has stated delight with his ability to get among the goals scorers and help The Gunners’ kids snatch victory in another English Premier League 2 fixture, on an evening several other Nigerian-born lads were also involved in various levels of games across Queensland, megasportsarena.com reports.
Azeez got one of the goals, as Arsenal made it five wins on the bounce with a 5-0 thrashing of Brighton & Hove at Meadow Park on Friday night, with as many as seven youngsters of Nigerian parentage on parade between both teams.
The Gunners’ under-23 squad’s coach, Steve Bould started goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, center back Joseph Olowu, right-back Ryan Alebiosu, central midfielders Azeez and Tim Akinola as well as forward Folarin Balogun, while Mazeed Ogungbo watched from the bench, and The Seagulls had Ayo Tanimowo on for 90 minutes in his tenth appearance this season.
Azeez gave the home team the lead inside six minutes as he found the top corner from the edge of the box for his first goal for Arsenal’s under-23 squad, following which Balogun made it 2-0 after dribbling through the Brighton defence and increased the lead on the stroke of half-time.
The assist on that goal came from Azeez, while Nikolaj Moller got in on the act four minutes from time, firing into an empty net after the ball was put on a plate for him by Akinola, yet there was still time for Balogun to complete his hat-trick in stoppage time.
There was also heavy Nigerian presence and a goal when Arsenal thrashed north London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in an English U18 Premier League match on Saturday at Shenley Training Centre in Hertfordshire, as goalkeeper Ovie Ejeheri was joined in The Gunners’ starting line-up by Mazeed Ogungbo and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, while Joel Ideho was on the bench for the entire game.
Arsenal led 2-1 at the break, Monlouis putting the Gunners in front which was cancelled out by Mathurin, before Giraud-Hutchinson restored the lead and the third came through Kido Taylor-Hart three minutes into the second half, after which Ogungbo struck in the second minute of stoppage time.
The 18-year-old Ogungbo, a Republic of Ireland under-19 international, has now scored twice for Arsenal’s kids so far this season, including a game-winning goal against Rotherham United in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
Fejiri Okenabirhie was also in action against West Ham United, who reached the last 16 of the English FA Cup with a 4-0 win over their English League One visitors, Doncaster Rovers at London Stadium on Saturday evening.
Okenabirhie played all 90 minutes for the visitors, who first conceded from Pablo Fornals in just the second minute, while Andriy Yarmolenko added a second on 32 minutes before an own goal from Andy Butler eight minutes into the second half put the result beyond doubt.
With the outcome all but decided, The Hammers’ coach, David Moyes sent on Dapo Afolayan for his West Ham debut with 20 minutes left on the clock and the former Chelsea youth team player got his first goal for the club eight minutes after his introduction.
After tapping in a rebound from close range following Fredericks’ saved effort, Afolayan became the 96th West Ham player to score on his first team debut and the 23-year-old forward was full of action all through his time on the pitch, and his effort was rewarded with a goal.
It marked an exciting weekend for Afolayan, who had also played the previous night in West Ham’s 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur during an English Premier League 2 fixture, which also was the setting for a happy ending for Azeez and the other London-based squad from Arsenal.
Azeez took to social media to reveal his emotions after helping his side romped to a mammoth win, as he posted: “Great win last night to start the year. Really happy to contribute with a goal and 2 assists too and a socially distanced celebration. @Arsenal @ArsenalAcademy.”
