Arsenal were crowned FA Youth Cup champions following a convincing 2-0 second-leg win over Coventry City's youngsters at Highbury.

The Gunners were always favourites to lift the coveted trophy after securing a 3-1 advantage at Highfield Road in the first leg eight days ago.

Many suspected that Don Howe's side would seek to protect their lead, but while the game never lived up to the excitement, thrills and spills of the first encounter, the home side were easily the most adventurous of the two teams.

For all intents and purposes, the destiny of The Times sponsored title was decided seven minutes before half-time when a high looping back pass from Coventry right-back Richard Spong put his goalkeeper under intense pressure.

Arsenal's Jay Bothroyd challenged and nicked the ball away with a clever flick. The tall striker then nonchalantly volleyed the ball into a vacant net from close range.

Coventry battled hard after the interval, but their hearts were broken and their heads sunk lower when they went 2-0 behind on 72 minutes.

Coventry defended valiantly to deny David Noble a goal as reward for his fine run, but the midfielder's shot rebounded only as far as his colleague Steven Sidwell.

The flame-haired youngster then fired a low drive into the left side of the net beyond Gary Montgomery's desperate dive.

After that point, Coventry had little to offer in response and the Gunners' youngsters went on to pick up the first trophy in what could be a unique treble. Their Under-19s and Under-17s are both in the FA Academy play-off finals.

Coventry, on the other hand, went home having tasted defeat in the FA Youth Cup for the second successive year.

Don Howe, Arsenal's head youth coach, was clearly pleased after the game, saying: "The lads did well, put on a very good display and controlled the match from start to finish.

"I was quite worried before the game because I thought the first leg scoreline flattered us, but tonight we were in complete control and were deserved winners."

Teams:

Arsenal: Stack, Chilvers, Noble, Halls, Galli, Sidwell, Ricketts, Barrett, Bothroyd, Volz, Pennant.

Subs Not Used: Israel, Osei-Kuffour, Holloway, Santry, Chorley.

Goals: Bothroyd 38, Sidwell 72.

Coventry: Montgomery, Spong, Hall, Fowler, Cudworth, Davenport, Strachan, Betts, Ashby, McShefery , Pead.

Subs Not Used: Parkinson, Mehmet, Grant, Shanahan, Magennis.

Agg (5-1) Arsenal win the FA Youth Cup 5-1 on aggregate

Att: 14,706

Ref: S Bennett (Orpington).