Arsenal through to fifth round of FA Youth Cup following emphatic 6-1 win over Posh at London Road.
It was the performance of Arsenal playmaker Daniel Crowley that caught the eye with the 16-year-old hugely influential in a comfortable success for Arsene Wenger's young guns at London Road.The 16-year-old was outstanding in a dominant performance from the visitors with striker Chuba Akpom bagging a hat-trick as Posh struggled to cope with the rampant Gunners.
Gavin Strachan's men made a lively start against their illustrious opponents with Irishman Robert Duggan firing just over the crossbar from 30-yards as the Arsenal defence back-pedaled.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles casually lifted a lob wide of the target after darting in behind Marshall on 10 minutes as Arsenal got in behind Marshall in the full-back position.
Charlie Coulson was next to try his luck as the tie began in open fashion, but he scuffed his shot wide of the target with others well placed. Zelalem fired over from 30-yards on 16 minutes as the Gunners began to impose themselves in the cup-tie on a tricky surface.
Goalkeeper O'Reilly produced a fine stop to deny Alexander Iwobi on 23 minutes after he was picked out by the impressive Crowley.
The deadlock was broken on 28 minutes as the impressive Crowley threaded a pass inside the full-back Marshall to Ainsley MAITLAND-NILES, who took a touch before rolling the ball past O'Reilly and into the back of the net.
It was 2-0 to the visitors on 37 minutes and again Crowley was at the heart of it, his right-foot cross was met by striker AKPOM who had the simple task of nodding the ball past O'Reilly from close-range.
Full-back Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill was superbly denied by O'Reilly after racing onto the overlap as Arsenal pressed for a third goal before the break.
The game was effectively over three minutes after the break as Crowley fed AKPOM who rounded goalkeeper O'Reilly before slotting the ball into an empty net.
Maitland-Niles was denied by O'Reilly while Akpom fired wide with a one v one opportunity after a pass from the influential Crowley.
O'Reilly pushed a powerful drive from lively winger Maitland-Niles over the crossbar on 57 minutes. Siemann was then denied by O'Reilly as he pushed a volley away from danger.
It was 4-0 to the Gunners just after the hour mark as AKPOM slid the ball through the legs of O'Reilly after yet another assist from Crowley.
It was 5-0 to the visitors and if anyone deserved a goal it was Daniel CROWLEY, cutting inside on his right-foot and curling a superb effort in off the far post.
Arsenal made it 6-0 on 77 minutes as a tiring Posh back-line was exploited by CROWLEY who showed excellent close control before wriggling into the box, rounding the keeper and finding the back of the net from a very acute angle.
Tom Conlon was denied a consolation by a flying save from Vickers before Moore-Azille saw an effort blocked as Posh pushed in the final moments to get on the scoreboard.
That consolation did come in stoppage time as midfielder Robert DUGGAN capped off a fine goal-scoring performance in the Youth Cup, by cutting inside from the left and curling the ball into the net past Vickers.
Final Score: Posh U18s 1-6 Arsenal U18s
Posh: O'Reilly, Carter, Marshall, Conlon, Burgess, Moore-Azille, Coulson, Duggan, Edwards (sub Phillips 83min), Carthey, Luto (sub Stewart 55min). Unused subs: Henry, Friend, Humphrey.
Arsenal: Vickers, Moore, Ormonde-Ottewill, Kamara (sub Jebb 81min), O'Connor (sub Mugabo 86min), Siemann, Maitland-Niles (sub Lipman 75min), Zelalem, Akpom, Crowley, Iwobi. Unused subs: Huddart, Dawkins.
Attendance: 1,986