FA Youth Cup Preview- Arsenal to host Bradford or Crewe in 3rd round

Arsenal will begin the defence of their FA Youth Cup crown at home to either Bradford City or Crewe Alexandra when the 3rd round of this season’s competition gets underway next month.

The Gunners won the prestigious trophy for the seventh time in their history last campaign, overcoming Liverpool in the two-legged Final after previously getting the better of Tottenham, Sunderland, Wolves and Aston Villa. Much of the personnel from last season’s success are ineligible this time around, but it will be a perfect opportunity for some of this year’s first-year scholars to make a name for themselves.

The 2009/10 edition of the FA Youth Cup is in full flow, with the Second round proper commencing on Monday. Arsenal’s two possible opponents meet on Tuesday evening to determine who will take on the Gunners at Underhill for  a place in the 4th round. Bradford ply their trade in the Puma Youth Alliance, the second tier of youth football beneath the Premier Academy League, whilst Crewe are part of England’s premier youth league but currently sit rock bottom of Group C, although they are in a very tough section with Liverpool and both Manchester clubs.

Arsenal, however, will be looking to avoid a repeat of the 2005/06 season when they went out at this stage of the competition on penalties to Brentford and will instead look to replicate the success of last campaign. Below is a run-down of which players are eligible for the Gunners and who is likely to be lining up in the competition this season.

Goalkeepers

With James Shea inelligible and Sean McDermott recovering from injury, the recent capture of James Dunn from Southend was neccessary. Until McDermott recovers, Dunn will have little competition for the n0.1 jersey with Luke Chambers and Yilmaz Aksoy considered relatively unexperienced.

Defenders

First-year scholars Rhema Obed and Sam Byles will both be hoping to start, but with plenty of centre-back options in Daniel Boateng, Ignasi Miquel and Sead Hajrovic, at least one of them is likely to be dissapointed. Cedric Evina may have established himself in the reserves but will still feature in this competition with George Brislen-Hall as his back-up.

Midfielders

Jack Wilshere is still eligible to play this season but it remains unclear whether he will do so as injuries mount in the first-team. Conor Henderson and Emmanuel Frimpong were both involved in last season’s triumph and are likely to feature again. There is a lot of competition in this area, with both Oguzhan Ozyakup and Chuks Aneke challenging for starting berths, whilst Jernade Meade could prove to be a useful option as a substitute. Nico Yennaris has also began the season well and will be fancying his chances of being included. Jamie Edge is struggling with injury at present but may be called upon later in the campaign.

Strikers

Benik Afobe scored in the FA Youth Cup last season, whilst Luke Freeman has already played in the senior version of this competition. Roarie Deacon should start, but is likely to be used as a winger.

Dunn

Obed-Boateng-Miquel-Evina

Frimpong-Ozyakup

Deacon-Henderson-Freeman

Afobe

subs: McDermott, Aneke, Brislen-Hall, Meade, Byles.

FA Youth Cup Fixtures 2009/10

Second round proper:

Shrewsbury v Morecambe, Bradford v Crewe, Notts County v Hartlepool, Northampton v Chesterfield, Milwall v Oxford, MK Dons v Bishop’s Stortford, Bury v Macclesfield, St Albans v Wycombe, York v Carlisle, Tranmere v Cambridge, Southampton v Hereford, Swindon v Leyton Orient, Charlton v Woking, Torquay v Norwich, Stockport v Carlton, AFC Wimbledon v Bournemouth, Huddersfield v Atherstone, Oldham v Rochdale, Brighton v Ebbsfleet.

Third Round draw: (Ties to be played by December 12th, 2009)

Man.United v Birmingham, Derby v Peterborough, Middlesbrough v Everton, Wigan v Tottenham, Cheltenham v Reading, Nottingham Forest v Bury or Macclesfield, MK Dons or Bishop’s Stortford v Swindon or Leyton Orient, Shrewsbury or Morecambe v Hull, Watford v St Albans or Wycombe, Liverpool v Wolves, Notts County or Hartlepool v Sheffield United, Crystal Palace v Bristol City, Stockport or Carlton v Fulham, Preston v Man.City, Cardiff v Barnsley, Torquay or Norwich v Millwall or Oxford, Arsenal v Bradford or Crewe, Tranmere or Cambridge v Ipswich, Scunthorpe v Burnley, Plymouth v West Ham, Portsmouth v Huddlesfield or Atherstone, Northampton or Chesterfield v Brighton or Ebbsfleet, Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland, Aston Villa v Oldham or Rochdale, York or Carlisle v Stoke, Swansea  v West Brom, Coventry v Leicester, Bolton v AFC Wimbledon or Bournemouth, Blackburn v Blackpool, Charlton or Woking v Chelsea, Doncaster v Newcastle, QPR v Southampton or Hereford.