Arsenal grabbed the first finalists spot in the SUFC Youth Cup as they claimed a 3-1 victory over FC Twente in an entertaining opening semi-final.

Both clubs showcased a high level of technical ability, but Steve Bould's side edged out their European opposition thanks to Samir Bihmoutine's brace and a first-half strike from Zac Ansah. Mate Szolga's penalty had given Twente hope midway through the second period.

FC Twente's Cas Peters almost got the tournament underway in style when he harried Gunners goalkeeper Sean McDermott straight from the kick-off. The forward's persistence led to McDermott firing his clearance at him, but the ball ricocheted narrowly past the left-hand post.

The Londoners first sight of goal arrived in the fifth minute when Ansah, son of former Blues hero Andy, flashed an off-balance effort wide from ten yards out.

Peters was again involved for the Dutch side shortly after the quarter-of-an-hour mark when his cut-back was drilled into McDermott's gloves by Sonny Wittereen, but it was Arsenal that took the lead just a minute later as Bihmoutine's looping header deceived Walter Dronkers and bounced over the line off of the crossbar.

On the stroke of half-time, the Gunners doubled their lead. Jeffrey Monakana's over-hit cross was collected by Kyle Ebicillio and the midfielder's well-weighted through-ball was poked past Dronkers by Ansah.

The second half began in similarly frenetic fashion to the first as Bihmoutine arrowed a skimming attempt at Dronkers from 20 yards. The custodian was called into action again on 32 minutes when his outstretched right boot diverted Monakana's first-time half-volley away from the near post.

Despite Bould's Arsenal enjoying the majority of possession and chances, Twente continued to press and Chris Davids came within a whisker of reducing the arrears in the 41st minute when his 30-yard free-kick cannoned back off of the crossbar.

However, just two minutes later, Theoten Caat's outfit had made it 2-1 as Szolga was tripped entering the penalty area and the substitute swiftly brushed himself down to smash a rising spot-kick into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Davids' impressive set-piece delivery almost led to a leveller with twelve minutes remaining as the left-footer centred for Filip Orsula, only for his aerial effort to drop agonisingly wide of the far post.

Gunners replacement Philip Roberts came close to netting following a raft of changes as his attempted lob was clutched high above his head by Dronkers, but the two-goal advantage was restored five minutes from time.

Roberts raced onto Ebicillio's 40-yard pass and was adjudged to have been brought down by Dronkers on the left-hand edge of the penalty area, with Bihmoutine stepping up to convert into the bottom left-hand corner from twelve yards.

Arsenal now await the winners of this afternoon's second semi between hosts Southend United and West Ham United.

Arsenal: Sean McDermott (Reice Charles-Cook 51), Ben Glasgow (Josh Siafa 53), George Brislen-Hall (James Campbell 31), Callum Webb, Elton Monteiro, Jamie Edge (Steven Smith 31), Jeffrey Monakana (Isaac Hayden 51), Kyle Ebicillio, Zac Ansah (Josh Rees 51), Rees (Philip Roberts 31), Samir Bihmoutine.

FC Twente: Wouter Dronkers, Semol Souhuwat, Jurjan Mannes, Chris Davids, Guillan Preudhomme (Mate Szolga 37), Kru Fillinger, Jens Marius Kolseth (Deniz Turuc 37), Joey Belterman, Cas Peters, Filip Orsula, Sonny Wittereen (Stephen Baltus 47). Substitutes not used: Rich Hemmink, Timo Plattel.