It was disappointment for Jack Wilshere as his Arsenal Under-18s side lost the FA Youth Cup final to West Ham on Tuesday night – but there were plenty of positives to take for the Gunners.
Arsenal hosted the prestigious youth competition at the Emirates Stadium in front of an impressive 26,000-strong crowd, which included 7,000 away fans. Yet the hosts were still viewed as the underdogs against a highly-rated Hammers side who beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Under-18s Premier League just 10 days ago and thrashed Southampton 6-1 in the semi-final.
Wilshere’s side started very brightly and took the lead in some style through Omari Benjamin. Reuell Walters, who has been on the bench for Mikel Arteta’s side this season, showed his class by driving forward from defence to feed Amario Cozier-Duberry.