Arsenal suffered a big 4-1 loss to Fulham at Motspur Park (New Malden, Surrey) in their first game of the U18 Premier League on Saturday, August 12.

Six players of Nigerian descent- Tobi Omole, Joseph Olowu, Folarin Balogun, Joseph Olayinka, Bukayo Saka and goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo- were included in Arsenal's 16-man squad.

Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham's younger brother Timmy made his competitive debut for Fulham U18s following his switch from Charlton Athletic in the summer transfer window.

Folarin Balogun would have given Arsenal the lead in the sixth minute after finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but saw his shot saved by Luca Ashby-Hammond.

Two minutes after the intermission, Balogun scored from a header to put Arsenal 1-0 up, only for the hosts to level the game within a minute, before Cameron Thompson netted a  hat-trick.

Of the seven Nigerian players named in the match day squads, only goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was not handed a run out.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : fulhamfc.com