Arsenal-Manchester City: FA Youth Cup Young Guns Knock Out Title Holders

Steve Bould's hugely promising Arsenal youth side have knocked out current Youth FA Cup holders and equally talented youngsters of Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium and now progress to the final which will be played over two legs.

In front of a crowd of just over 9,000 the Gunners got off to a great start with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas floating a long ball up for Sanchez Watt to slot home with barely a minute on the clock.

Within 20 minutes the home side were 2-0 up thanks to a Jack Wilshere penalty after City keeper Joe Clegg brought down Watt in the box.

At this stage the home side looked on top but City did have their chance.

However, within the space of two minutes the tie was all but over.

First, Wilshere sent over an inch perfect cross for Kyle Bartley to head home. Then, within seconds of the restart, Watt got his second of the night. The Arsenal youngster robbed Wabara on the edge of the box before slotting home to send Arsenal 4-0 up on the night and 6-1 to the good on aggregate.

City manager Jim Cassell quickly made a change bringing on Jack Redshaw. This proved to be a stroke of genius as Redshaw passed to Ibrahim who finished past Shea in the Arsenal goal from 10 yards to claw one back for City.

The goal proved to be the last of the night.

In the second half, Wilshere, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, and Frimpong had chances for Arsenal while Redshaw in particular made a nuisance of himself up front for Manchester City.

For a finish the game fizzled out and Arsenal march on with a 6-2 aggregate score.

Both managers can be proud of the efforts of both sides and with the talent at the Manchester City academy there is no doubt they will be back in force next season.

As for Arsenal, they will play Liverpool home and away in an attempt to win the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 2001.

ARSENAL

James Shea, Craig Eastmond, Luke Ayling, Kyle Bartley, Thomas Cruise (78), Sanchez Watt, Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin, Emmanuel Frimpong, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (c), Gilles Sunu (78).

SUBSTITUTES: Charlie Mann, Cedric Evina (78), Oguzhan Ozyakup, Luke Freeman, Benik Afobe

MANCHESTER CITY

Joe Clegg, Kieran Trippier (c), Greg Cunningham, Reece Wabara, Dedryck Boyata, Andrew Tutte, Ahmad Benali, Abdisalam Ibrahim, Chris Chantler (81), Robbie Mak (72), Alex Nimely-Tchuimeni (45).

SUBSTITUTES: John Guidetti (81), Eirik Johansen, Jack Redshaw (45), Omar Elabdellaoui, Adrian Cieslewitz (72)