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Arsenal vs West Ham FA Youth Cup final preview and players to watch

  /  autty

It's an all-London FA Youth Cup final on Tuesday night as Arsenal take on West Ham at the Emirates Stadium.

Gunners coach Jack Wilshere played the last time they lifted the trophy back in 2009 and they're hoping to use their home advantage to win the Youth Cup for the eighth time.

It's been an even longer wait for the Hammers, whose team included Joe Cole and Michael Carrick when they last won it back in 1999.

Backed by 7,000 fans in a sold-out away section at the Emirates, West Ham are aiming to win the Youth Cup for the fourth time in their history.

Kevin Keen's team have already secured the Under 18 Premier League South Division title, winning 18 of their 21 matches and wrapping up the title by beating Arsenal 2-0 earlier this month.

To reach this stage, the Irons won 3-1 at Sheffield United, 1-0 at Burnley, 4-1 at Stoke City and 4-2 at Ipswich Town before finally landing a home draw in the semi-finals.

They made light work of Southampton, winning 6-1 at the London Stadium with Divin Mubama smashing a hat-trick.

As for Arsenal, they thrashed Millwall 6-0, won 3-2 at Newcastle United and 4-2 at Watford before edging out Cambridge United 3-2 in the last eight.

Extra time was required to overcome the tough test of Manchester City, with Myles Lewis-Skelly settling it just seconds before the penalty shoot-out.

Whoever wins will follow in the footsteps of Manchester United, who won last season's Youth Cup by beating Nottingham Forest 3-1 at Old Trafford.

THREE TO WATCH FROM ARSENAL

BY DANIEL MATTHEWS

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY

Arguably no one around Jack Wilshere's Under-18 team is creating quite the same buzz as this 16-year-old midfielder, who has excellent technical ability, allied with industry, bite and poise.

He scored the last-gasp winner in Arsenal's semi-final victory over Manchester City to cap a fine individual display at the Emirates.

ETHAN NWANERI

Became the youngest player to ever play in a Premier League match, aged 15 years and 181 days, when he came on against Brentford earlier this season.

There is, however, a real risk that this exciting attacking midfielder could leave north London, with other clubs including Manchester City eyeing his signature.

AMARIO COZIER-DUBERRY

This 17-year-old was playing Sunday League for Chettle Court Rangers until a few years ago. The winger only joined Arsenal aged 14 but is already drawing comparisons with Bukayo Saka.

He looked at home at the Emirates in the last round, causing City problems with his tireless running, sharp feet and delivery.

THREE TO WATCH FROM WEST HAM

BY KIERAN GILL

DIVIN MUBAMA

West Ham's best goalscorer and Arsenal's worst nightmare. Since debuting for David Moyes' first team in Europe in November, Newham-born Mubama has kicked on, averaging more than a goal a game for the Under 21s and Under 18s.

GEORGE EARTHY

Staff at Chadwell Heath love to rave about Earthy, who joined the academy at age five. He is a highly technical player who is comfortable with either foot, and when asked, he compares himself to Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini for his creativity.

KAELAN CASEY

Another who joined West Ham when he was five years old. Academy insiders have likened Casey to West Ham legend Alvin Martin, which is high praise indeed. He's strong in the air, he's good with the ball, and he reads the game beyond his years, citing the club captain Declan Rice as an inspiration.