Kevin Keen hailed West Ham United's FA Youth Cup final success against Arsenal as one of the best nights of his life.

The young Hammers fell behind early on at Emirates Stadium, but the turned the game on its head with two goals in two minutes from George Earthy and Callum Marshall.

And captain Gideon Kodua added a stunning third, chipping Gunners goalkeeper Noah Cooper from 40 yards after Josh Robinson made a mistake just inside his own half.

The hosts had chances to hit back in the second half, but West Ham held firm and added late gloss to the scoreline as Kaelen Casey headed home from a corner and substitute Josh Briggs bundled home another with his first touch to seal a 5-1 triumph.

It meant a fourth FA Youth Cup title for the Hammers and their first since 1999, with lead coach Keen telling whufc.com: "I am so proud of them. I'd take this group over any group and I said it to them before the game.

"They work so hard. From the first day of pre-season, this group has been on it. It’s not just the talent it’s the working hard too. 

"It’s the togetherness. Everything about this group. There is a lot of humility as well, which goes a long way. I'm really hopeful for all of them and they're all just great kids.

"It was one of the best nights of my life and I'm sure it's one of the best nights of our young players' lives."

Having already clinched the league title, the young Irons fell behind on seven minutes when Omari Benjamin produced a fine finish for the Gunners.

But Earthy fired home a superb equaliser from 20 yards and Marshall turned home Kodua's excellent cross moments later.

And Kodua's wonder goal - in front of 7,000 travelling fans - gave Keen's side an extra boost shortly before the break.

"There is a lot of the game where they've got possession and where the boys were working hard to make sure Arsenal didn't get into the box," added Keen. 

"Our defensive structure was very good. The goals were 'wow'!

"I think we have the best support in the country. To get 7,000 out there and to sing like that and be as passionate for Academy football: ‘Wow.’"

The likes of Casey, Divin Mubama and Oliver Scarles have already appeared in the first-team squad this season and it remains to be seen which other members of this young group go on to graduate.

Keen is hoping they can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Joe Cole and Michael Carrick, who helped beat Coventry 9-0 on aggregate in 1999.

"They are a fantastic group that wants to do well for this football club. And hopefully like the Youth Cup winners from years gone by, we’ll have some of them get into our first team and have fantastic careers" he said.

"It means the world to me. It’s been something like 23 seasons as a player and a coach for me, and you don’t win things that often. And to win it as we did. I am gobsmacked.

"It’s absolutely stunning. To win it like we did here and in front of their family and friends. It front of my wife too. It is absolutely amazing."