Make the next step

The FA Youth Cup, sponsored by E.ON
The Final, Second Leg
7.45pm, Tuesday 26 May 2009
Anfield, Liverpool FC

Even with an FA Youth Cup trophy under their belt, Arsenal's young players will still have a tough task jostling for a spot in the first-team.

Jack Wilshere's already done it, and coach Steve Bould is confident of more joining Arsene Wenger's team at the Emirates Stadium after a 2-1 win in the second leg at Anfield led to a 6-2 aggregate win.

“We'll never know that until they're thrown in, but I certainly think the manager's prepared to give one or two of these kids a chance,” said Bould.

“There's one or two that have massive character and they've all got ability, they've all got talent so the next stage is next year, hopefully they'll get in or near that first-team squad. We'll go from there.”

“It's going to be quite difficult, as the first-team is young at the moment but we think we're producing players.”

It's been eight years since Arsenal won The FA Youth Cup Final, with the likes of Jermaine Pennant, Jeremie Aliadiere and Steven Sidwell emerging to top flight football, although no longer with the Gunners. But Bould does not link The Cup with Academy success.

“I don't think any of us should be judged by winning The FA Youth Cup, what we should be judged on is by how many kids we can get through to the first-team,” he said. “The Academy has got a fantastic record of that. Now we want to see these kids get into our first-team. That's the next result for us.”

And Bould is proud of the close relationship between the Academy and the first-team at the north London club.

“It's fantastic, first class,” he said. “We all see the manager most days. He's very open, he has our kids across regularly so he knows everything about them.”

After a 4-1 win in the first leg at the Emirates on Friday, Bould admitted motivating the players for Tuesday's game was difficult.

“We didn't play particularly well tonight,” he conceded. “We weren't at our best, but we probably won it in the first leg. We played ever so well on Friday night and I think we showed everybody that we've got good players.

“They've been fabulous in all fairness and they've got their just rewards, but I think the nicest thing about it all is that the manager likes them. I feel we've got some good players so that's the main part and this is just the icing on the cake.”