The Arsenal youth teams have learned their opponents for the upcoming rounds of the FA Youth Cup and the EFL Trophy.

EFL Trophy

Folarin Balogun with the Arsenal u21s (Photo via David Price on Twitter)
Folarin Balogun with the Arsenal u21s scoring against Ipswich Town in 2020/21 (Photo via David Price on Twitter)

After making it through the EFL Trophy group stage by a single point, the Arsenal u21s were guaranteed an away draw for the first game of the knockout stages, facing one of the group winners.

The competition is still regionalised at this stage, so Arsenal were also guaranteed a team from the ‘Southern Section’. The Gunners drew Ipswich Town, in a rematch from last season.

In the 2020/21 campaign, the Arsenal u21s faced Ipswich in the group stage, with George Lewis and Folarin Balogun scoring in a 2-1 comeback win.

This time around, Ipswich will be looking for revenge. They’ll host Arsenal on Wednesday, December 1st at 19:45 GMT, so it’s not too far off.

Though Ipswich won their group, they actually finished with the same record as Arsenal – one win, one draw, one defeat. The only difference is that they won their penalty shootout after the draw, whilst Arsenal lost theirs.

FA Youth Cup

Charlie Patino with the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Charlie Patino on Twitter)
Charlie Patino with the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Charlie Patino on Twitter)

The Arsenal u18s enter the FA Youth Cup in the third round, so this will be their first game in the competition this year.

With games taking place on or before the 11th December, Arsenal have been drawn away to Swindon Town or Colchester United.

The two sides are yet to play their second-round tie, which will take place tonight, Thursday, 18th November at 19:00 GMT.

The Arsenal u18s could have a very talented side, if all the eligible players are made available to them.

They have Marcelo Flores, Khayon Edwards, Omari Hutchinson, Charlie Patino, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Zane Monlouis, Reuell Walters, Jack Henry-Francis, Amario Cozier-Duberry, and more.

Many of those are already playing regular u23 football, and the majority of them are youth internationals at some level.