Arsenal vs West Ham FA Youth Cup Final Preview

West Ham’s FA Youth Cup hopefuls will be left in no doubt at Emirates Stadium – winning matters. Kevin Keen’s side will take on an Arsenal side managed by Jack Wilshere in Tuesday’s final, with the Hammers seeking to win the Youth Cup for the first time since 1999, when Michael Carrick and Joe Cole were part of the set-up. Keen is telling his players to seize the opportunity of a trophy, stressing that part of being a footballer is wanting to win things. Arsenal were last in the Youth Cup final in 2018, when Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were part of the side beaten over two legs by Chelsea. Wilshere leads them into this final as he attempts to cap an excellent first season as Arsenal’s Under-18 coach by leading them to a trophy he won as a youngster against Liverpool in 2009. Around 8,000 West Ham fans are expected to make the short journey to Arsenal to support their team, who cruised to the Premier League Under-18 South title, suggesting they should start favourites given the home side are currently 10th. Semi-final hat-trick hero Divin Mubama has already scored a first-team goal, against AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League, but Kevin Keen wants far more for his group. He is hopeful that this squad will have two or three players who can emulate Declan Rice and have that sort of career.