Brady bunch graduate

Arsenal v Manchester United
The FA Youth Cup Sponsored by E.ON
Semi-Final first leg
7pm, Wednesday 14 March 2007
Emirates Stadium

Liam Brady has challenged the latest batch of Arsenal's youngsters to prove they are ready to make the step up to Arsene Wenger's senior squad next season.

Arsenal take on Manchester United in the first leg of The FA Youth Cup Semi-Final on Wednesday night when the young guns will get the chance to perform at the Emirates Stadium.

Steve Bould's side managed to see off Cardiff in the quarter-finals at Arsenal's new home, with a crowd of 11,610 turning up to watch. Striker Jay Simpson was the hero, grabbing the first hat-trick to be scored at the Emirates in a narrow 3-2 win.

Arsenal are expecting an attendance of around 20,000 for the game against the Premiership leaders' youth side and Brady, Arsenal's head of youth development, is looking for his youngsters to impress in front of a watching Arsene Wenger.

Brady said: "Arsene Wenger pays every attention to our young players.

"When the first-team is on international duty, Arsene is left with the young players and he concentrates on them and trains with them.

"The club's future is in fine hands under Arsene Wenger. He knows about some of the players we have coming through and they are always trying to impress."

The likes of Denilson and Armand Troare have shown this season that Wenger is prepared to blood players from the youth team in his senior squad.

And, according to Brady, playing at the Emirates Stadium will be a massive boost for the boys against Manchester United.

"Not everybody is a Cesc Fabregas or Wayne Rooney and can go and straight into the first-team," he added.

"They need games like this to get experience for their futures.

"They have already played at the Emirates, and it was great for them. Now we are playing against one of the biggest teams in Manchester United and that is something that will help them grow into stronger players.

"They had a great experience against Cardiff in the last round where we managed to win in front of a big crowd so we will be looking for more of the same."