Emile Smith Rowe and Nuno Tavares are set to face off against each other in the u21 European Championship quarter-finals this weekend.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal celebrates with Nuno Tavares after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on December 02, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal celebrates with Nuno Tavares after scoring their side’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on December 02, 2021. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

With Fabio Vieira pulling out injured, Arsenal have two players at the 2023 u21 European Championship, with Emile Smith Rowe representing England and Nuno Tavares playing for Portugal.

But only one of them will remain at the tournament beyond this Sunday, as England are set to face Portugal in the quarter-finals.

With the help of two goals from Smith Rowe, England won Group C with a perfect nine points, six goals scored, and zero conceded.

Portugal didn’t have things quite so easy in Group A, losing their opening game to Georgia and drawing with the Netherlands to leave them on just one point after two games.

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But they had the opportunity to snatch the runner-up spot in the group on the final day, if they could win against Belgium and the other result went their way.

Thanks to an 89th-minute Portugal penalty, that’s how it panned out, sending Tavares’ side through to face England. The Arsenal left-back played 90 minutes in all three group games.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Nuno Tavares of Arsenal and Facundo Torres of Orlando City fight for the ball during a Florida Cup friendly at Exploria Stadium on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Nuno Tavares of Arsenal and Facundo Torres of Orlando City fight for the ball during a Florida Cup friendly at Exploria Stadium on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

England face Portugal on Sunday, July 2nd at 17:00 BST, and both Arsenal players will be expecting to start.

Smith Rowe didn’t feature in England’s final group game, with top spot already secured, but his two goals in two games make him a pretty easy pick for the knockout stages.

For whichever Arsenal player progresses, the semi-final will be on July 5th at 17:00 BST, and the potential final is on July 8th, also at 17:00 BST. The games will all be streamed on UEFA.tv.

Arsenal u21 Euros fixtures and results

LEICESTER, ENGLAND: Emile Smith Rowe of England U21 is tackled by Mohamed Simakan of France U21 during the International Friendly match between England U21 and France U21 at The King Power Stadium on March 25, 2023. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND: Emile Smith Rowe of England U21 is tackled by Mohamed Simakan of France U21 during the International Friendly match between England U21 and France U21 at The King Power Stadium on March 25, 2023. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Wednesday, June 21st

  • Georgia 2-0 Portugal – Tavares played 90 minutes for Portugal.

Thursday, June 22nd

  • Czech Republic 0-2 England – Smith Rowe played 15 minutes and scored for England.

Saturday, June 24th

  • Portugal 1-1 Netherlands – Tavares played 90 minutes for Portugal and was booked.

Sunday, June 25th

  • England 2-0 Israel – Smith Rowe played 70 minutes and scored for England.

Tuesday, June 27th

  • Portugal 2-1 Belgium – Tavares played 90 minutes for Portugal.

Wednesday, June 28th

  • England 2-0 Germany – Smith Rowe was rested.

Sunday, July 2nd

  • 17:00 – Quarter-final – England vs Portugal

Times in BST

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