Report – Luis Munoz, 14, scores late winner as Arsenal U19s beat Napoli in UEFA Youth League

UEFA Youth League

Napoli 1 (Pereyra 57) Arsenal 2 (Harriman-Annous 28, Munoz 90)

14 year old Luis Munoz scored a stoppage time winner as Arsenal U19s commenced their UEFA Youth League campaign with a 2-1 win away to Napoli today.

Arsenal had taken the lead through Andre Harriman-Annous before Milton Pereyra equalised.

Munoz, who had entered the fray as a substitute, then provided the game’s decisive intervention in the fourth minute of stoppage time having been set up by debutant Igor Tyjon.

Last season Munoz became the youngest ever player in Youth League history when he featured in the competition aged 13. He is now the second youngest ever scorer in the competition behind Max Dowman.

Arsenal gave a start to new signing Axel Donczew, with Ceadach O’Neill surprisingly omitted from the starting lineup.

Porter

Hamill-Clarke-Upson-Ogunnaike

Ibrahim

Julienne-Hashi

Emerson Nwaneri-Harriman Annous-Donczew

Subs: Tyjon (for Donczew, 46), Sampang (for Hamill, 46), Murisa (for Ibrahim, 56), Munoz (for Hashi, 77), Mbala (for Julienne, 77). Not used: Talbot, O’Neill, Abubakar, Maghoma.

Up against a side managed by former Italy international Alberto Nocerino, Arsenal were prepared for a tough challenge.

The young Gunners took the lead just before the half hour mark as Harriman-Annous, one of Arsenal’s overage players, found the net.

Arsenal made two alterations ahead of the second half as Tyjon and Saurap Sampang entered the fray in place of Donczew and Callan Hamill.

It represented a Youth League debut for Sampang, with Tyjon making his overall Arsenal debut.

Napoli managed to pull level in the 57th minute as captain Milton Pereyra scored.

Further changes followed as Teshaun Murisa came on for captain Ife Ibrahim before Munoz and Elyon Mbala were both introduced.

It appeared as though Arsenal would have to settle for a draw in their first game but deep into stoppage time Tyjon found Munoz, who made no mistake in finding the net.

Arsenal have got off to a positive start in a competition that they have frequently struggled in and Munoz’s reputation as one of Europe’s standout prospects will now only continue to grow.