Arsenal vs Chelsea: TV channel, live stream, players to watch & FA Youth Cup final preview

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Arsenal vs Chelsea: TV channel, live stream, players to watch & FA Youth Cup final preview image

Arsenal Under-18s have a mountain to climb in the second leg of the FA Youth Cup final after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat by Chelsea in the first leg.

The Blues are the reigning champions and their dominance in the competition is reflected in the fact that they are chasing their fifth title in succession.

In fact, it is the seventh year in a row that the west London outfit are contesting the final and their cross-city rivals the Gunners stand in their way on this occasion.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have not won the cup since 2009, when a team featuring one Jack Wilshere overcame Liverpool and they will be eager to end Chelsea's hegemony.

Game Arsenal U18 vs Chelsea U18
Date Monday, April 30
Time 19:45 BST / 14:45 ET

TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch


In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on TV on ITV4 and it can be streamed live online using the ITV Player.

Arsenal's official website are also streaming the game and it can be watched on Chelsea TV too.

UK TV channel Online stream
ITV4 / Chelsea TV ITV Player / Arsenal.com / Chelsea TV

The game is not being broadcast live on TV in the United States, nor can it be streamed live online.

US TV channel Online stream
N/A N/A

Chelsea players to watch


Callum Hudson-Odoi Chelsea

Daishawn Redan

Netherlands youth international Daishawn Redan has been an important member of Chelsea's U-19 and U-18 squads since joining from Ajax last summer. The 17-year-old is lethal in front of goal and has scored in the UEFA Youth League against Real Madrid, as well his hitting the opener in their semi-final victory over Porto. Redan thrives on the big occasions and his pace will be an asset to Jody Morris' team. Indeed, with two goals in the first leg, he will have to be marked closely at the Emirates.

Callum Hudson-Odoi

An U-17 World Cup winner with England, Callum Hudson-Odoi has been earmarked for a bright future in the game and has already featured on a number of occasions for Antonio Conte's first team. The forward has regularly found the back of the net for the Blues' U-18, U-19 and U-23 sides this season and has led by example in the FA Youth Cup, where his goals have been crucial to their run to the final. 

Billy Gilmour

A relatively high-profile signing from Rangers, Scotland youth international Billy Gilmour is just 16, but he has slotted seamlessly into the Blues' U-18 team and he has already scored against the Gunners, so they will be all too aware of the threat he poses. Gilmour featured in both legs of the semi-final against Birmingham City and will be hoping to have earned a starting place in the final.


Arsenal players to watch


Xavier Amaechi Arsenal

Xavier Amaechi

Attacking midfielder Xavier Amaechi has been to the fore in Arsenal reaching the final of this season's FA Youth Cup and he will be the player they look to as they attempt to unlock a watertight Chelsea defence. In an interview with Arsenal's in-house media, No. 7 Amaechi said that he models his game on that of individuals such as Mesut Ozil and Gareth Bale, so, as you can imagine, he is an energetic presence on the wings, who likes to cut inside. Amaechi scored Arsenal's only goal of the first leg and will be determined to add more to his tally in the second leg.

Emile Smith-Rowe

Like Amaechi, Emile Smith-Rowe is a formidable attacking presence in the Gunners midfield and he played a part in England's U-17 World Cup win in India last year, scoring once in three appearances. The 17-year-old has scored four goals in five FA Youth Cup games and tends to drift in off the wings to find space, where he is then capable of bringing his team-mates into the game.

Tyreece John-Jules

Striker Tyreece John-Jules was the hero for the Gunners in the fourth round against Liverpool and his coolness in front of goal will be crucial if they are to disrupt Chelsea's impressive backline. John-Jules was handed his first professional contract in February as a reward for his performances and he will be keen to repay the faith that has been shown in him by finding the net in the final.


Match Preview


Marc Gueyi Chelsea

Chelsea are closing in on their fifth FA Youth Cup title in a row after firing themselves into a formidable lead in the first leg at Stamford Bridge on Friday. Two goals from Redan and a Marc Gueyi strike were enough to see Jody Morris' side to victory after Amaechi put the Gunners ahead.

Blues boss Morris was pleased with how his players responded after losing the UEFA Youth League final earlier in the week and is eager for them to finish the tie off in north London. Morris said: "We have a two-goal cushion going into the second leg which means Arsenal will have to come at us at the Emirates and hopefully we have more opportunities to score there."

Amaechi's opener in the first leg was the first goal conceded by Chelsea in this year's tournament and Kwame Ampadu will be demanding greater focus in front of goal in the second leg as they attempt to claw their way back into contention at home.

Gunners captain Danny Ballard was understandably disappointed with the manner of their defeat, particularly after taking the lead, but remains confident that they can turn things around in front of home support.

“I think for large parts of the game we were really organised in defence and we showed that we’re dangerous on the break," Ballard told the official Arsenal website. "We have a lot of threats in wide areas and, as we saw, we have the players to be able to get a result on Monday."

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