Aaron Loupalo-Bi followed up his hat-trick on Tuesday night with a match-winning double as Fulham’s under 21s began their PL2 campaign with an impressive 3-2 win over Arsenal at Boreham Wood this evening.

The in-form forward, who put his sensational hat-trick at Sutton United down to training with Marco Silva’s senior squad this summer, put the Gunners to the sword with two well-taken goals on a hot Hertfordshire evening after he made the opening goal for Tom Olyott. Hayden Mullins’ men showed character after surrendering their two-goal lead to seal all three points through the promising striker with thirteen minutes of this entertaining tie left.

Hayden Mullins’ side showed several changes from Tuesday night with an entirely new back four. Brad de Jesus began at right back, Jon Esenga at left back and Sam Amissah, who came on for Ryan Sessegnon in last week’s pre-season friendly victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, partnering Harvey Araujo in central defence. Fulham, wearing their green away strip, were the first to threaten with Olyott’s lofted cross finding Farhaan Ali Wahid at the far post but the winger could only head straight at Tommy Setford.

Arsenal felt like they should have had a penalty from their first attack of note as Ismeal Kabia tumbled in the penalty area, but referee Richard Eley awarded a corner. The Gunners could still have taken the lead from the set-piece as former Fulham defender Maldini Kacurri connected with Demiane Agustien’s delivery but headed over Alex Borto’s crossbar.

Instead, it was the visitors who went ahead in the fourteenth minute when Loupalo-Bi beat a couple of red shirts to find space in the penalty area and played in Olyott, who slotted a smart finish past Setford and into the far corner. Fulham came agonisingly close to doubling their lead a minute later. Sixteen year-old Seth Ridgeon surged through the centre of the park and found de Jesus on the right flank, with the full back’s cross locating Ali Wahid, whose powerful shot flew fractionally wide.

The young Whites did double their lead two minutes later. Olyott put Loupalo-Bi through on goal with a perceptive pass and the striker never looked like missing as the one-on-one despite Setford sprinting off his line. It was a dream start for Mullins’ side but Arsenal halved the deficit within three minutes. Louie Copley waltzed passed a couple of Fulham defenders and set up former Fulham academy winger Charles Sagoe Junior, who thumped an unstoppable shot beyond Borto.

Borto then made a magnificent save with his trailing leg to block Kabia’s effort after the winger had burst away from Esenga, but the American goalkeeper was unable to prevent Kabia from levelling matters on 32 minutes. The Arsenal wide man used his searing pace to get beyond the Fulham defence and touched the ball past Borto, who had flown off his line in an attempt to narrow the angle.

A tighter second half followed but Fulham still had the better chances. Substitute Jayden Quashie sent a free-kick just over the crossbar before Setford did well to get fingertips to a rising drive from Terrell Works. The England under-19 international was finally beaten thirteen minutes from time when Loupalo-Bi latched onto a lovely through ball from Ali Wahid to finish fabulously after the winger had worked his way down the left.

Borto brilliantly denied Kabia twice in succession with five minutes left as the young Whites held on for an excellent London derby victory to register their second victory in the space of three days. The under 21s are next in action against Everton at Walton Hall Park next Friday night.

ARSENAL UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Setford; Nichols (Ferdinand 89), Salmon, Washington, Kacurri (Clarke 59); Dudziak, Kabia; Copley (Ibrahim 73), Agustien, Sagoe Junior; Harriman-Annous. Subs (not used): Nygaard, Oyetunde.

BOOKED: Kacurri, Clarke.

GOALS: Sagoe Junior (20), Kabia (32).

FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; de Jesus, Esenga, Amissah, Araujo; Gofford, Ridgeon (Nsasi 86); Olyott (Quashie 62), Works, Ali Wahid (Wingate 80); Loupalo-Bi. Subs (not used): Underwood.

BOOKED: Gofford, Works, de Jesus.

GOALS: Olyott (14), Loupalo-Bi (17, 77).

REFEREE: Richard Eley.

ATTENDANCE: 260.