Callum Hudson-Odoi bagged a double as Chelsea swept aside Arsenal in the second leg of the FA Youth Cup Final by 4-0.
Already commanding a 3-1 lead from the first leg, a fine strike from Billy Gilmour and second-half efforts from Hudson-Odoi and Tino Anjorin secured Chelsea’s fifth straight FA Youth Cup crown.
Arsenal knew after their defeat at Stamford Bridge last Friday that a good start was essential and went close early on as Bukayo Saka fired straight at Jamie Cumming.
But Chelsea showed exactly why they’ve been so prolific in this competition as they took the lead after ten minutes.
A crisp first-time delivery from Juan Castillo down the left was cleared straight to Gilmour who chested the ball down and rifled it into the bottom corner.
Castillo was causing all sorts of problems down the left and he tested Joao Virginia in the Arsenal net with a low drive which was well saved by the Gunners stopper.
Arsenal were struggling to assert themselves on the game but clicked into gear on 32 minutes when a neat move almost saw the hosts in on goal but for a fine tackle by Castillo.
Needing three goals in 45 minutes, Arsenal came out with a sense of purpose in the second half at the Emirates Stadium and almost equalised.
A tantalising free-kick found its way to Saka but the youngster couldn’t direct his chance at goal.
But Chelsea, who haven’t tasted defeat over two legs in the competition since losing to Norwich in the final in 2013, sealed the victory after 55 minutes.
Daishawn Redan was able to break the offside trap as his cross eluded George McEachran but not Hudson-Odoi, who showed great composure to slot the ball into the corner.
Virginia had pulled off some fine saves but was powerless to prevent Chelsea’s third as Hudson-Odoi found time and space down the right to find substitute Anjorin who lashed the ball home.
Hudson-Odoi then capitalised on a mistake from substitute Zech Medley before cutting inside and ruthlessly striking his tenth of the competition this season.
The result means Chelsea have become the first team since Manchester United in the 1950s to win five consecutive FA Youth Cup crowns.
Arsenal: Joao Virginia, Vontae Daley-Campbell, Dominic Thompson, Robbie Burton, Danny Ballard (c) (Zech Medley 76), Joseph Olowu, James Olayinka, Bukayo Saka, Tyreece John-Jules (Trae Coyle 70), Emile Smith Rowe, Xavier Amaechi (Florian Balogun 62)
Substitutes: Florian Balogun for Amaechi 62, Trae Coyle for John-Jules 70, Zech Medley for Ballard 76
Substitutes not used: Daniel Barden, Matthew Smith
Chelsea: Jamie Cumming, Juan Castillo, Reece James (c), Marc Guehi, Jon Panzo, Conor Gallagher (Clinton Mola 60), Billy Gilmour, Dujon Sterling, George McEachran (Tino Anjorin 60), Callum Hudson-Odoi, Daishawn Redan (Charlie Brown 70)
Substitutes: Tino Anjorin for McEachran 60, Clinton Mola for Conor Gallagher 60, Charlie Brown for Daishawn Redan 70
Substitutes not used: Jake Askew, Tariq Lamptey
Goals: Gilmour 10, Hudson-Odoi 55, 76, Anjorin 67
Referee: Tim Robinson
Attendance: 3,877
