Academy chief Sammy Morgan says Arsenal won’t have been happy to have drawn Town's U18s in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup. The sides meet at Barnet’s Underhill this evening with Town’s youngsters having beaten their Gunners counterparts twice since the summer (KO 7pm).
Morgan says the U18s, who are coached by former Arsenal player and academy coach Chris Kiwomya, are well capable of defeating the Gunners again: "Arsenal won it last year, but I don't think they will be too happy to have been drawn to play Ipswich, just as it's a difficult draw for us as well.
"But we have beaten them a couple of times recently, so that might give us the psychological edge. The lads know that we can beat Arsenal. We know that they are beatable.”
Earlier in the season the U18s beat Arsenal 3-2 at Playford Road in a league game and also won a pre-season friendly 1-0 at the Gunners' Shenley Training Centre.
Morgan says winning is the most important thing in the Youth Cup: "I know that we are in the youth development field, but this game will all be about the result.
"This is tournament football. It's cut-throat, so the pendulum will swing away from performance towards the result.”
Boss Roy Keane watched the U18s defeat Tranmere 2-0 away in the third round, Connor Wickham and Josh Carson netting the goals, and is also expected to be at Underhill. Town have confirmed that Wickham will be in tonight's team.
The winners of the tie will face Fulham at home in the fifth round, the Cottagers’ youngsters having defeated Bolton on penalties last week at the fourth round stage.
Text commentary on the game will be available on Arsenal's website.