Arsenal 2-1 Man City: Myles Lewis-Skelly is the hero to send Gunners into FA Youth Cup final
Arsenal 2-1 Man City: Myles Lewis-Skelly is the hero as 16-year-old’s header in the LAST minute of extra-time sends Jack Wilshere’s U18s into the FA Youth Cup final for the first time since 2009
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Jack Wilshere is one step away from leading Arsenal to more FA Youth Cup glory after his Under-18 side dramatically overcame Manchester City in the dying seconds of extra-time at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
The outstanding Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is just 16, headed in the winner with virtually the last kick of the game, sparking wild scenes at the Emirates.
Arsenal’s bench flooded on to the pitch, while City’s players collapsed to the floor.
The visitors had been down to 10 men from inside the first 10 minutes and they trailed for much of the evening after Michal Rosiak curled home a free kick following Lakyle Samuel’s red card.
But City forced the game into extra-time after Justin Oboavwoduo’s 15th goal in his last 11 games.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (right) was the hero for Arsenal as they reached the FA Youth Cup final
The 16-year-old beat the goalkeeper and his marker to head in in the closing moments
It was to be delight for Jack Wilshere, who is impressing in his coaching role with the U18s
Neither side could find a winner until the 120th minute, when Arsenal captain Bradley Ibrahim floated a ball into the box and Lewis-Skelly beat City keeper George Murray-Jones to the ball.
That goal takes Arsenal into the final where they will face either West Ham or Southampton later this month.
Wilshere, who took over last summer, was the poster boy of Arsenal’s academy when they won the trophy in 2008-09. That remains the last time the Gunners triumphed in the competition.
This was a big night for both sides and it was Arsenal who had first team stars on hand in the dressing room for some late words of advice.
First team goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was among them.
One of the best traits of Wilshere’s side is that during this run to the final they have never looked like they are beaten.
Arsenal, who will face the winner of West Ham against Southampton in the final, have bagged three late winners on this cup run already.
It took a 93rd-minute winner by Rosiak in the quarter-finals against Cambridge United to get this far.
Before that, Osman Kamara scored an 87th-minute winner away to Newcastle in round four.
Now it was the turn of Lewis-Skelly and his heroics meant there was to be joyous celebrations on the pitch at the end with players collapsing in relief.
Family and friends were dotted around the sidelines and they were quick to embrace Arsenal’s latest crop of young stars as they progressed to the final, something they haven’t done since back in 2009 when a side featuring Wilshere defeated Liverpool.
First team Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (right) showed his support before the match
It was a dream start for Arsenal as Michal Rosiak’s free-kick put them into a deserved early lead
But City responded and all eyes were on manager Wilshere in a team-talk prior to extra-time
