Jack Wilshere’s Arsenal u18s are set to face Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in the FA Youth Cup semi-final.

Manchester City won 3-0 against Oxford United on Tuesday night, progressing to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, where they’d already been drawn against Arsenal.

The young Gunners will have home advantage, with the game set to take place at the Emirates Stadium, and the fixture has to be scheduled before April 8th.

That leaves plenty of potential midweek slots open, as the Arsenal first team only play at home in one midweek between now and then (Thursday, March 16th, Sporting CP). We’ll have to wait for an update from Arsenal for the date details.

The Arsenal u18s have had a great run to this stage, thrashing Millwall 6-0, winning 3-2 at St. James’ Park, 4-2 at Vicarage Road, and 3-2 against Cambridge United at the Emirates Stadium to reach the semis.

But this will certainly be their toughest test yet. City are possibly the outstanding u18 side in the country, on a run of 10 wins, zero draws, and zero defeats in 2023.

The only side matching City in the league this season are West Ham United, who are in the other semi-final against Southampton.

The cup draw has done a great job of keeping the top u18 teams apart until the very end.

If we’re looking for encouraging signs ahead of the semi-final, this will be the first cup game City have played away from home.

Whilst Arsenal had to come through some intense away fixtures, City have been in front of their home support throughout the competition. That won’t be the case at the Emirates.

One other positive is that the draw also handed Arsenal home advantage in the final, if they can make it there.