Arsenal Under-18s host Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup tonight, with fans able to get a close-up look at some genuine stars of the future.
The 7pm kick-off takes place at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal’s academy talents get the rare chance to showcase their stuff on the big stage.
Arsenal are taking the FA Youth Cup seriously this season and players who usually represent the Under-21s have been involved throughout the competition.
The Gunners have not won the trophy since 2009, when their current U18 manager Jack Wilshere was playing.
The current crop are determined to change that and here Standard Sport takes a look at three players who could catch the eye at the Emirates...
Amario Cozier-Duberry
The 17-year-old is one of the brightest prospects in the Arsenal academy right now and the club have high hopes for him.
Cozier-Duberry played for the first team in a friendly against Juventus during the World Cup break and has been on the bench in recent weeks.
The winger has set his sights on following in the footsteps of Bukayo Saka and there are similarities between the pair.
Cozier-Duberry’s game is similar to Saka in that he likes to operate out wide and cut in-field. He has scored in every round of the FA Youth Cup this season.
The comparisons to Saka are also born out of the way Cozier-Duberry holds himself off the pitch. He is typically quite a shy character but becomes a different person when he steps over the white line.
“Amario is very exciting and Mikel [Arteta] likes him,” said Wilshere. “He reminds me of Bukayo Saka, plays in the same position as him, needs to get better with his decision-making like Bukayo did, but he’s definitely exciting.
“In some moments he’s unplayable. You give him the ball and he can make things happen. You can set up a team and have a game plan, but when you’ve got individuals like that you’ve got a chance.”
Ethan Nwaneri
The midfielder made headlines earlier this season when he became the youngest player in Premier League history.
Nwaneri came on for Arsenal against Brentford, making his debut for the club at the age of just 15 years and 181 days, and is attracting interest from rivals given that he cannot sign a professional contract until he’s 17.
“Mikel says he gets it and that’s why it’s so important that we align with the first-team, that we have the same football language,” said Wilshere.
“Us as coaches, that’s what we focus on with Ethan, trying to give him the best platform, trying to give him a clear head. He has been exceptional in the Youth Cup as well and to be fair, he’s been exceptional with what he’s been doing, how he’s managed school, his GCSEs.
“Whatever he does, I wish him all the best and he deserves it because of the sacrifices he’s made. We all hope he stays because he’s an exceptional talent but at the moment it is to help him when he goes over there.”
The fact Nwaneri was given his debut despite being so young underlines how highly Arsenal rate him. He is yet to sign a professional deal due to his age, but the Gunners want to tie him down.
The midfielder has played regularly for the U21s this season, but has appeared for the U18s in the Youth Cup. He stands out because his physicality and composure on the ball is far greater than what you’d expect from someone his age.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Another talented midfielder from Arsenal’s academy that the club have high hopes for. The 16-year-old was excellent in the last-16 as the Gunners came from behind to beat Watford.
Lewis-Skelly has impressed with his ability to play under pressure. He sometimes finds himself with two or three defenders around him, but his quick feet allow him to get away from trouble.
The youngster is already catching the eye of the first team and travelled to their training camp in Dubai during the World Cup. As recently as this month, Lewis-Skelly was also called up to train with the senior side.
