BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal scores his sides second goal from the penalty spot during the FA Youth Cup Fourth Round between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Meadow Park on January 17, 2019 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Arsenal Youth

Bukayo Saka scores but Arsenal u18s crash out of FA Youth Cup

Feb 9, 2019

Bukayo Saka scored his fifth goal in four 2019 starts for the Arsenal academy on Saturday, but he couldn’t prevent the young side crashing out of the FA Youth Cup in disappointing fashion.

bukayo saka2 — LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 13: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Arsenal and Qarabag FK at Emirates Stadium on December 13, 2018, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

After seeing off U18 Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 in the last round, Arsenal were dealt a shock blow by West Bromwich Albion. The visitors knocked them out of the FA Youth Cup with a surprising 2-1 victory.

Arsenal had named a strong team, with an exciting front three of Xavier Amaechi, Folarin Balogun and Bukayo Saka, but they got off to the worst possible start by conceding in the first 10 minutes.

Saka always looked like the most likely to come up with a response, hitting the bar in the 27th minute before scoring from close range not long afterwards. However, West Brom took the lead again in the second half, and Arsenal’s forwards had an off day with their finishing for the remainder of the game.

One positive was seeing Tyreece John-Jules return to the action after injury, but even he couldn’t inspire the team to a late equaliser.

CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Tyreece John-Jules of Arsenal U21 walks the pitch prior to kick off during the Checkatrade Trophy match between Cheltenham Town and Arsenal U21 at Whaddon Road on October 30, 2018 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images) — CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 30: Tyreece John-Jules of Arsenal U21 walks the pitch prior to kick off during the Checkatrade Trophy match between Cheltenham Town and Arsenal U21 at Whaddon Road on October 30, 2018, in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

For the team, it was a desperately disappointing result, as they had a real opportunity to win the competition this year. For Saka individually, it was good to see his strong form in front of goal continuing, with five goals and one assist in four games for the academy since the turn of the year.

Hopefully, this exit won’t hinder Saka getting more first-team chances before the end of the campaign.