Our under-18s turn their attention to Premier League Cup action this weekend as we host Crystal Palace in our final group-stage fixture. The match takes place on Saturday, November 26, at Sobha Realty Training Centre, with kick-off at 11am (UK time).
In our most recent Premier League Cup outing, we staged a dramatic comeback to overcome a two-goal deficit and secure a late 3-2 victory over Birmingham City, courtesy of a last-minute winner from Max Dowman.
The Opposition
The Eagles this clash sitting third in our group, level on three points with Liverpool but trailing on goal difference. They began their campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win over Birmingham City before falling 5-2 to Liverpool in their last match.
In the U18 Premier League, Palace currently sit in 10th place, sharing an identical record with us - two wins, four draws, and three losses - on 10 points. They are only behind us on goal difference. A key player to watch is Jesse Derry - son of former Palace defender Shaun - who boasts an impressive seven goals in six league games. Derry has also found the net in both of Palace’s cup matches, scoring against Birmingham and Liverpool.
This will be a quick reunion, as we faced Palace just three weeks ago in the league, a match that ended in a 1-1 draw after Brando Bailey-Joseph’s second-half equaliser.
How It Stands
Thanks to back-to-back victories over Liverpool and Birmingham, we’ve taken maximum points in the group so far. This means a draw or win against Palace will secure top spot in the group and a place in the quarter-finals.
However, a defeat by two or more goals, coupled with a Liverpool victory over the Blues, could see us drop to third place and miss out on qualification.
In this competition, only the seven group winners and the best second-placed team advance to the quarter-finals, so every point matters as we aim to continue our journey.
How to Follow
Stay connected with live commentary on our academy’s X page during the game. After the final whistle, a full match report will be available on Arsenal.com, along with highlights and post-match interviews with Adam Birchall and one of our young Gunners.
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