FA Youth Cup-Eastmond seeks Villa revenge

Arsenal take on Aston Villa in the FA Youth Cup third round on Wednesday and second-year scholar is determined to progress- and take revenge on the side which ended the Gunners Premier Academy League hopes last season.

Eastmond is expected to start at right-back and said

They knocked us out late in the competition last season and, in the previous season, out of the semi-finals of the Academy trophy. It’s a tough away draw and when it was declared we were a little bit shocked at first because two top teams were drawn together so early. But then we got used to the idea and I think it will be a positive thing for us. It will get us focussed and into the competition very quickly.

The Gunners went out at the Fourth Round stage to Liverpool last season and Craig wants to progress further this time, but acknowledges that it will be tough.

We will need to play well as a team because Villa are very good on the counter-attack., but I believe we have the talent to get through and go on to win the competition this year. As a group we want to go further than the team did last year and they very nearly got to the end. We’re all looking forward to the match and I hope to be involved. There is a lot of competition for places this year and so no-one is guaranteed a spot.

Speaking of competition for places, first-year Rhema Obed is also hoping to be involved

I want to get into the Reserves and make the FA Youth Cup squad. I want to keep improving and learning and this season has already been fantastic for that.

A lot of people have asked me which players are eligible for the FA Youth Cup this season. This year’s competition is open for players born between 1st September 1990 and 1st September 1993, meaning the following players are eligible:

Kyle Bartley, Francis Coquelin, Thomas Cruise, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Henri Lansbury, Rhys Murphy, Jonas Rasmussen, Gilles Sunu, Sanchez Watt, Luke Ayling, Anton Blackwood, Craig Eastmond, James Shea, Sam Byles, Roarie Deacon, Cedric Evina, Luke Freeman, Emmanuel Frimpong, Conor Henderson, Rhema Obed, Charlie Mann, Benik Afobe, Daniel Boateng, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Ignasi Miquel-Pons, Chuks Aneke. *Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere are also eligible but won’t feature due to first-team commitments.

More build-up tomorrow including more player quotes and predicted formations.