PL2 playoffs: Butler-Oyedeji at the double, Nwaneri on target as Arsenal beat Man Utd 6-2 

Arsenal have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Premier League 2 playoffs after a 6-2 win against Manchester United at Meadow Park in Hertfordshire on Friday evening.

Five players of Nigerian descent were on parade in the end-of-season knockout match, with 2023 Flying Eagles invitee Ovie Ejeheri, history-making midfielder Ethan Nwaneri and striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji starting for the Gunners; Josh Nichols entered the game as a substitute in the 59th minute while Maxi Oyedele went the distance for the Red Devils. 

Arsenal raced into a three-goal lead inside 30 minutes when Butler-Oyedeji, Jack Henry-Francis and Cozier-Duberry found the back of the net.

After setting up Arsenal's third goal, Butler-Oyedeji turned from provider to scorer when he made it 4-0, rounding the goalkeeper to bag his second of the game three minutes before halftime. 

Eight minutes into the second half, Nwaneri dusted himself down to convert the spot kick he had won to put the game out of the reach of Manchester United. 

The goal-fest continued but it was the visitors that scored the sixth goal of the contest in the 66th minute when Samuel Mather pulled one back. 

Cozier-Duberry restored Arsenal's five-goal advantage in the first minute of stoppage time, before Biancheri netted another consolation goal in the 96th minute.

In the quarterfinals of the Premier League 2 playoffs, Arsenal will face the winner of the ongoing game between Chelsea and Brighton & Hove. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: arsenal.com

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