Arsenal U23s 4 Sunderland U23s 0: Four-goal Gunners too strong for young Black Cats

The Gunners went ahead just before the half-hour mark at Boreham Wood’s Meadow Park, with Stephy Mavididi beating Max Stryjek from the penalty spot, after a foul on the lively Reiss Nelson.

George Brady went closest for Sunderland in the first half, with a header which keeper Macey just managed to reach above his head.

Arsenal doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half as Nelson finished goof good work down the left wing.

It was soon 3-0 as Kaylen Hinds knocked the ball home after Stryjek failed to hold onto the initial shot.

Joel Asoro had an effort chalked off for offside, after finishing off a neat through pass from George Honeyman, as Sunderland rallied.

Arsenal, though, added a killer fourth goal with 25 minutes to go, Chris Willock firing a fine shot out of Stryjek’s reach.

Sunderland would have gone fourth in Division One with a win, but they stay sixth with 12 points from nine games. Arsenal are two points worse off in eighth place.

Arsenal: Macey, Johnson, Bielik, Sheaf, M Bola, Bennacer, Zelalem, Nelson, Hinds (Dragomir), Willock, Mavididi (Neketiah)

Sunderland: Stryjek, J Robson, T Robson (Casey), Wright (Molyneux), Ledger, Brady, Embleton, E Robson, Asoro (Maja), Honeyman, Greenwood