The Arsenal u21s will take part in the Premier League International Cup again this year, with the competition returning in a new format.

Miguel Azeez and Charlie Patino in pre-season training (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Miguel Azeez and Charlie Patino in pre-season training (Photo via Arsenal.com)

The Premier League International Cup is an international youth tournament introduced in 2014 pitting English academy sides against some of the best youth teams from around Europe.

Arsenal’s last participation in the event came to a disappointing end, with the young Gunners winning a dramatic quarter-final 4-3 against AS Monaco II before the Covid pandemic saw the rest of the tournament cancelled.

That was in 2019/20, and there hasn’t been another edition of the event since. In 2022/23, the tournament will return in a new format.

Previously, Premier League academy sides were drawn into six groups of four, each containing two English (or Welsh) sides and two foreign sides.

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This time around, there will be just three groups, each containing eight teams. However, the four English teams in the group will only play against the four non-English sides.

The top two in each group and the two best runners-up across the three groups will qualify for the quarter-finals.

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Folarin Balogun of Arsenal FC scores his sides third goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League International Cup match between Arsenal FC and AS Monaco FC at Meadow Park on March 03, 2020, in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND: Folarin Balogun of Arsenal FC scores his side’s third goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League International Cup match between Arsenal FC and AS Monaco FC at Meadow Park on March 03, 2020, in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s group contains Brighton, Manchester United, West Ham United, Feyenoord, Monaco, PSV Eindhoven, and Sparta Prague.

Arsenal will only have to play against the last four, but they’ll obviously need to better the results of their Premier League academy rivals.

All Arsenal matches will be played at Meadow Park, Borehamwood.

Fixtures

  • Tuesday, September 6th, 7pm – Arsenal u21s vs Feyenoord
  • Tuesday, November 15th, 7pm – Arsenal u21s vs AS Monaco
  • Wednesday, November 30th, 7pm – Arsenal u21s vs Sparta Prague
  • Tuesday, February 7th, 7pm – Arsenal u21s vs PSV Eindhoven
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