FA Youth Cup- Tough test expected for Bould’s boys

Jack Wilshere will make his FA Youth Cup debut at Underhill tonight, and Arsenal may need to rely on him to come up with the goods against a talented Wolves side.

The Gunners may have comfortably disposed of their Midlands opponents with a 3-1 win in the Premier Academy League back in August, but the Cup brings with it a whole different philosophy.

One bad performance can see you drop out as Steve Bould’s side have found out to their disappointment in the past. You only have to go back three years to see what Brentford did to Arsenal.

Nonetheless, many are predicting an Arsenal victory tonight and I have to go along with them. Great character was shown to come back against Villa in the last round and the Gunners are full of confidence.

In team news, only Conor Henderson (medial knee ligaments) and Ignasi Miquel (thigh) miss out, although neither were likely to be considered for selection anyway. Wilshere is the only change from the 3rd round, with Sunu dropping to the bench and Roarie Deacon left out of the squad altogether. There’s no place either for talented strikers Luke Freeman and Benik Afobe.

The winners of tonight’s tie will face a trip to either Preston or Sunderland in the next round. For many in the Arsenal side, this season represents their last chance of winning the competition so it really is a case of now or never.