Arsenal's Hale End academy enjoyed winning starts to the 2024/25 season, as the club's young stars continue to impress.
Mehmet Ali's Under 21s side kicked off the weekend's action early with a home game against Man United, while Jack Wilshire led the Under 18s to victory on Saturday away to West Ham.
Both sides will be glad to have got off the mark as they look to build on the positive signs that they showed throughout the last campaign.
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16/08: Arsenal U21s 4-2 Man United U21s (Premier League 2)
The young Gunners got off to the perfect start after just 12 minutes, as Khayon Edwards connected with a cross sent in by Ismeal Kabia - to open the scoring.
Arsenal continued to control the game, and were rewarded for their efforts as half-time approached, as the Red Devils capitulated.
Michal Rosiak doubled the hosts' advantage in the 35th minute with a powerful long-range strike, before Nathan Butler-Oyedeji added a third just two minutes later - after showcasing some excellent skill.
Things went from good to great for Arsenal when, in the 43rd minute, Edwards got his brace - after finishing a rebounded Butler-Oyedeji effort.
These three goals in just eight minutes gave the Gunners a 4-0 lead at the break, after as comprehensive of a half as they could have hoped for - as real questions were asked of Man United's showing.
The second half brought with it an immediate reality check for the hosts, as Ethan Ennis scored within a minute to give the visitors a thread of hope.
Any chances of a miraculous comeback were quickly shelved when Ethan Williams saw red for an off-the-ball incident in the 60th minute, reducing Man United to 10 men.
Despite being a man down, Travis Binnion's side scored the only other goal of the game, as Ethan Wheatley netted in the 87th minute - though Arsenal saw out the game without any notable threat to their lead.
The win saw Arsenal go second in the table, on goal difference, with more opening games to be played across the weekend - while Man United languish in 21st place, owing to their heavy defeat.
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17/08: West Ham U18s 2-3 Arsenal U18s (U18 Premier League South)
The Under 18 side faced a difficult opening game against last season's runners-up, West Ham - who also embarrassed the young Gunners in the 2023 FA Youth Cup final, which the Hammers won 5-1.
Debutant Ceadach O’Neill opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 20th minute, as his effort into the bottom corner was aided in via the post.
The hosts responded well after going behind, however, and just six minutes later they were awarded a penalty - and Elisha Sowunmi made no mistake from the spot to level the game.
The sides remained level until the 58th minute, when Andre Annous received a back-heel from Alex Marciniak, before making inroads into the box and finishing with a composed effort to give Arsenal the lead once more.
Annous, scorer-turned-creator, sent a ball across the box in the 76th minute - which was latched onto by O'Neill who converted to secure his brace, and extend Arsenal's lead.
The game had another twist in store, however, as Riley Hargan pulled a goal back for the Hammers with a headed effort in the 85th minute.
Despite this late fightback, Arsenal did enough to hold on and seal an important opening weekend victory over their London rivals, as they moved to fourth in the table, on goal difference.
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Up next
Both sides will be hoping to build on their positive starts to the season in their next matches.
The Under 21s face the prospect of a trip to the West Midlands, where they will take on Wolves U21s on Friday, 23 August.
As for the Under 18s, another London derby, at home to Chelsea, awaits on Saturday, 24 August.
