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FA Youth Cup | Relive our run to the semi-finals

Arsenal's under-18s celebrate scoring against Cambridge United

Our under-18 side have been on quite the adventure to reach the last four of the FA Youth Cup, where they will face Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, April 4.

If their previous matches in this year's competition are anything to go by, the goals are set to flow in north London - that's because in our four ties so far, 22 goals have been scored as Jack Wilshere's team negotiated some tricky ties to set up a last-four clash against City - tickets available now.

Here, we look back on how things have gone so far:

Third round
Arsenal 6-0 Milwall
December 19, 2022

The cup run began at a wet and windy Meadow Park, but it was Millwall who were swept away thanks to a clinical performance from our Young Gunners.

Jimi Gower started the scoring in the 13th minute, before Ethan Nwaneri blasted home and Michal Rosiak added a third to give us a healthy advantage at the break.

Three further goals came after the restart, with Amario Cozier-Duberry wrapping up the tie eight minutes into the second half, before two late strikes from Omari Benjamin put further gloss on the scoreline.

Wilshere: "You saw the intention from the start, we wanted to play forward and get our players in the pockets and hurt them, and we did that.

"I think we can get better, which is quite scary really. This tournament is good for development because it's knockout football and you have to win."Team: Cooper, Roziak (Ferdinand 58), Robinson (Brown 77), Walters, Quesada-Thorn, Ibrahim (Oulad M’Hand 77) Lewis-Skelly, Gower, Cozier-Duberry, Nwaneri, Benjamin.

Fourth round
Newcastle United 2-3 Arsenal
January 17, 2023

A tricky trip to the north-east came next, and Wilshere's side rose to the challenge to snatch a dramatic victory in snowy conditions at St James' Park.

We got a deserved opener after just 14 minutes when Seb Ferdinand poked home from close range, but despite Lewis Miley swiftly restoring parity we went into the break in front thanks to a deflected Cozier-Duberry strike.

Back came the Magpies again and Ben Parkinson levelled again, and just as the game looked to be going to extra-time, Osman Kamara whipped home the winner with three minutes remaining to spark jubilant scenes from the visiting players.

Wilshere: “I said to the players that they should enjoy these moments because coming to a stadium like St James’ Park is a great stage for them.

“However, we need the same desire that we had tonight into every game going forward. They’re going to have to want to win more than the opposition.” Team: Cooper, Rosiak, Walters, Quamina, Sousa, Lewis-Skelly, Ibrahim, Gower (Robinson 89), Cozier-Duberry, Ferdinand, Benjamin (Kamara 83).

Fifth round
February 6, 2023
Watford 2-4 Arsenal

A superb fightback from our Young Gunners saw them overturn a two-goal deficit thanks to an excellent second half performance.

The Hornets looked to be heading into the quarter-finals when Michael Adu-Poku and Tobi Adeyemo handed them a dream start after just 13 minutes, but after the break it was a different story.

Cozier-Duberry's penalty began the fightback, before two goals in two minutes from Kamara and Rosiak turned the tie on its head. Cozier-Duberry then converted another from the spot to complete the scoring, and claim a resilient victory.

Wilshere: “To come back in the second half and score four goals shows real character and desire.

“When you’re two goals down, you need to play with a fire in you and have the desire to win. The boys have a never say die attitude and coupled with the quality they have it’s hard for teams to play against us.”

Team: Cooper, Rosiak, Walters, Quamina, Sousa, Lewis-Skelly, Ibrahim, Gower (Nwaneri 58), Cozier-Duberry (Kacurri 86), Ferdinand (Kamara 45), Benjamin.

Quarter-final
Arsenal 3-2 Cambridge United
February 23, 2023

Another last-gasp goal saw us once again come from behind to book our place in the final four of the competition.

Things seemed to be going well when Nwaneri drove home at Emirates Stadium, but goals either side of half-time from Josh Robinson and Kai Yearn stunned the crowd as the U's got themselves in front.

However, Cozier-Duberry continued his run of scoring in every round so far by equalising from the penalty spot, and then in stoppage-time, Rosiak popped up with a well-taken winner to secure a semi-final spot.

Wilshere: "We showed that spirit that I keep talking about, a fire that wins you games and we’ve seen that against Newcastle, Watford, and now tonight.

"We need to be better if we want to win the cup, but keep that fire and we will have a great chance. There’s a massive team spirit and unity to the group. It gets us through the tough moments.” 

Team: Cooper, Rosiak, Robinson, Walters, Sousa, Lewis-Skelly, Ibrahim, Nwaneri (Kacurri 90), Ferdinand (Kamara 62), Cozier-Duberry, Benjamin (Gower 80).

Head to Emirates Stadium to see the next step of our cup journey against Manchester City in the semi-finals, with tickets available now priced at just £4 for adults and £2 concessions.

Post-Match Report

U21s report: Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal

Khayon Edwards celebrates his goal at Old Trafford

WHAT HAPPENED

Our under-21s were held to a point in back-to-back away games after a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

We started the brighter of the two sides and went close twice within the first ten minutes - firstly, Mauro Bandeira found Khayon Edwards but his effort was comfortably saved and then moments later magical feet from Charles Sagoe Jr allowed him to find space in the box, but his effort stung the palms of Elyh Harrison.

We got our deserved lead when Edwards capitalised on Harrison’s error to tap into an empty net and notch his first goal since returning from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

However, the hosts drew level shortly against the run of play through Mateo Mejia’s fine finish.

Mehmet Ali’s side were the better team and had two glorious chances to restore a half-time lead but Bandeira fired over from close range before Sagoe Jr failed to convert his one-on-one.

The second half continued in the same manner and we created our first chance after the restart when Matt Smith’s precise through ball set Sagoe Jr away but his effort bounced off the post.

Smith, who continuously displayed a wonderful range of passes, almost connected with Zach Awe with a delightful left-foot dink but United scrambled the ball away.

Our young Gunners gave it their all and it was one-way traffic throughout most of the second half, but the hosts held on and we left Manchester with a solitary point.

 

WHAT IT MEANS

The draw sees us climb two places to sixth in the table with 29 points after 21 games played.


WHAT’S NEXT

We make the short trip to Fulham on Friday, April 7 to contest a London derby, knowing a win takes us above the Cottagers, who lie in fifth place.

Kick-off at Motspur Park is at 7pm (UK).


TEAM NEWS

Arsenal: Graczyk, Sweet, Monlouis, Awe, Sousa, Smith, Bandeira, Cottrell, Sagoe Jr, Cirjan (Cozier-Duberry, 66), Edwards

Subs not used: Cooper, Jeffcott, Ibrahim, Benjamin

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