Arsenal 1-5 West Ham LIVE! FA Youth Cup result, match stream, latest reaction and updates today

Arsenal vs West Ham - LIVE!

West Ham won the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 1999 as they beat Arsenal 5-1 at the Emirates Stadium. The Under-18 Premier League South champions fell behind inside the opening ten minutes, as the Gunners took the lead through Omari Benjamin as the ball fell to him in the box.

But West Ham hit back, and by half-time were two goals in front themselves. George Earthy and Callum Marshall struck in the space of two minutes, before Gideon Kodua added a stunning third to give the Hammers real control.

The Gunners pushed in the second-half to get themselves back into the match, and certainly had their moments to do so, but Jack Wilshere’s side could not find the clinical edge and Kaelan Casey put the result beyond doubt with ten minutes as he headed home from a corner, before Josh Briggs added further gloss to the scoreline in the closing stages.

Arsenal vs West Ham latest news

• GOAL! Casey puts result beyond doubt

• GOAL! Kodua gives West Ham real control

• GOAL! Marshall completes turnaround

• GOAL! Earthy fires Hammers level

• GOAL! Benjamin gives Arsenal early lead

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21:52 , Matt Verri

In the build-up to this FA Youth Cup final, Mark Noble had described this West Ham side as “comfortable being uncomfortable” and it was not difficult to see why.

Against an Arsenal team that, coached by Jack Wilshere, played much of the game’s cutest football and enjoyed fair spells of dominance, Kevin Keen’s youngsters produced a brilliantly ruthless display to lift the trophy for the first time since 1999 with a 5-1 triumph at the Emirates Stadium.

In doing so, the Hammers sealed a fine double, displaying all the lethal winning nous that has become ingrained by a runaway title success in the U18 Premier League South, sealed earlier this month with victory over the same opposition.

Read Malik Ouzia’s full analysis here

Painful final for Arsenal

21:25 , Matt Verri

Amario Cozier-Duberry 7

A couple of brilliant runs from deep and shot created opener. Missed big chance to pull one back straight after half-time.

Omari Benjamin 7

Took his goal superbly with first-time curler. Booked after a bit of needless late handbags.

Read our full Arsenal ratings here

Deserved winners

21:12 , Matt Verri

A 6-1 win in the semi-finals, followed by a 5-1 win away to Arsenal in the main event.

Pretty decent way to seal FA Youth Cup glory, and end West Ham’s 24-year wait!

Night to remember for Hammers...

21:06 , Matt Verri

George Earthy 7

Technically-gifted player whose equaliser started turnaround after Arsenal’s bright start.

Patrick Kelly 8

Outstanding in the middle of the park. Tenacious worker who tracked back brilliantly.

Gideon Kodua 8

Made the second goal with an excellent low cross and then scored stunner with 35-yard lob.

Read our full West Ham ratings here!

Start the celebrations...

21:00 , Matt Verri

Sealed in style!

20:58 , Matt Verri

FT: Arsenal 1-5 West Ham

20:51 , Matt Verri

Sensational from West Ham!

They win the FA Youth Cup for the first time in 24 years, thoroughly deserved too. Rampant display.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-5 West Ham | Briggs 90'

20:48 , Matt Verri

AND HE SCORES!

Briggs with his first touch, bundles home at the back post from the corner. Incredible.

20:48 , Matt Verri

89 mins: Almost a fifth!

Cooper forced into a good save with his feet at the near post, West Ham exploiting all the space that is now on offer.

Briggs on for Battrum for the final couple of minutes.

20:45 , Matt Verri

86 mins: Earthy the latest West Ham player to come off, and he makes sure he goes off on the far side. Strolls past the Hammers fan, punching the air and kissing the badge on his way.

Ferdinand on for Arsenal, replacing Benjamin.

20:42 , Matt Verri

83 mins: All very quiet now from the home fans, they know this one is done.

Wilshere still urging his players forward and acting as ball boy, but the race is run for the Gunners.

20:39 , Matt Verri

80 mins: That’s Casey’s final touch, limping off with cramp. Milking every second walking past the away fans.

Wilshere’s side have had their moments, but just haven’t been clinical enough.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-4 West Ham | Casey 78'

20:37 , Matt Verri

West Ham win a couple of corners, in front of the away fans who are enjoying every seconds.

And they seal it from the set-piece! Casey at the back post, he thunders the header home.

Job done for the Hammers!

20:35 , Matt Verri

76 mins: West Ham inches away from a penalty!

Kodua skipping towards the box, Ibrahim slides in and brings the Hammers man down... just outside the area. Free-kick.

20:33 , Matt Verri

74 mins: Benjamin slides in to try and charge down Terry’s clearance, West Ham players don’t like that and we have a bit of a shoving match.

It’s a yellow card for Benjamin, and so too Casey who came bundling in and escalated what was really nothing.

20:30 , Matt Verri

71 mins: Home fans turn the noise levels up, as Arsenal waste yet another chance.

Rosiak skips past his man, goes for full power and Terry parries it away. West Ham hanging on.

20:28 , Matt Verri

69 mins: HAS TO SCORE!

Arsenal corner to the back post, nodded back and falls for Nwaneri six yards out. Drags the shot badly wide, didn’t catch it at all.

20:25 , Matt Verri

66 mins: Sousa whips the cross in, Benjamin does brilliantly to control it with his back to goal but the finish is a bit wild.

One goal and this match changes, as Arsenal found out against Southampton in their first-team game recently...

20:21 , Matt Verri

62 mins: Corner Arsenal, who continue to put pressure on the Hammers backline. Bit of a delay as Kelly and Ibrahim clash.

Ball swung into the near post, good strong punch away from Terry.

20:17 , Matt Verri

58 mins: Chaos in the West Ham box!

Ball bobbling around, red shirts everyone taking a swing at the ball but West Ham have enough bodies back to clear.

Feel like this is the Gunners’ chance, have to score in the next ten minutes or so.

Malik Ouzia at the Emirates

20:15 , Matt Verri

A chant of “He’s one of our own...” has just gone up from a small section of the West Ham fans.

Presumably, that could apply to pretty much any player...

20:15 , Matt Verri

56 mins: Earthy back up, he’ll be fine to continue.

Another chance for Arsenal to get themselves back into it, as Nwaneri is found on the edge of the box. Swipes at it, sliced well wide.

20:13 , Matt Verri

54 mins: Earthy has gone down with cramp, not ideal with less than ten minutes of the second-half played.

He’s covered a fair amount of ground, but it’s in the final third he’s been most impressive. Could have had a hat-trick of goals from distance.

Malik Ouzia at the Emirates

20:11 , Matt Verri

A little tactical tweak at half-time from Jack Wilshere, who has dropped Ethan Nwaneri back into the No10 position in a bid to get him more involved.

20:11 , Matt Verri

52 mins: Kamara drives into the box, Battrum sticks a leg out in the box but the Arsenal winger stays on his feet.

Heavy touch as he does so, ball runs out of play for a goal-kick.

20:07 , Matt Verri

49 mins: Great save!

Earthy continues to find space on the edge of the Arsenal box. Lashed towards the bottom corner, really good save from Cooper to get down and turn that behind for a corner.

20:06 , Matt Verri

47 mins: BIG CHANCE!

Arsenal should have halved the deficit. It’s a superb run from Robinson, looking to make up for his error.

Pass slid through for Cozier-Duberry, tries to go for the near post and fires into the side-netting.

Back underway!

20:04 , Matt Verri

Up and running again. Kamara on for Gower at the break for Arsenal.

Feels a long, long time ago...

19:58 , Matt Verri

HT: Arsenal 1-3 West Ham

19:49 , Matt Verri

Eventful 45 minutes at the Emirates!

Great start from Arsenal and they took a deserved lead through Benjamin, but since then it’s been a ruthless display from West Ham.

Goals from Earthy, Marshall and Kadua have put them in charge.

Some finish!

19:46 , Matt Verri

19:46 , Matt Verri

45 mins: Arsenal really do look so vulnerable at the back.

Marshall’s low cross is cleared straight back to him, looks to put it back in but Robinson is there to clear.

Three minutes added on.

Malik Ouzia at the Emirates

19:44 , Matt Verri

This has been absolutely clinical from West Ham, who have made four openings and scored from three of them.

Arsenal have played some lovely possession football but every error has been ruthlessly punished.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-3 West Ham | Kadua 42'

19:42 , Matt Verri

STUNNING!

West Ham in real control now. Robinson caught on the ball and Kadua pounces.

Unable to charge away on goal, but sees Cooper off his line and floats a brilliant finish over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

19:39 , Matt Verri

39 mins: Much more like it from Arsenal!

Cozier-Duberry with a great run after winning the ball back in his own half. Looks to have been clipped on the edge of the box, but stays on his feet.

Rosiak floats a deep cross into the box, Benjamin gets there at the back post but can’t get the header on target.

19:37 , Matt Verri

37 mins: West Ham have definitely dropped off, sitting back in their shape and letting Arsenal have the ball. They still have that serious threat on the counter.

Cozier-Duberry continues to look dangerous on the right, he really does move just like Bukayo Saka.

19:35 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Nwaneri has been impressive on the ball when he’s dropped deep to pick it up.

Plenty of nice touches and turns. Pace of the match has slowed down a bit, Arsenal starting to see more of the ball at the back and in midfield.

Malik Ouzia at the Emirates

19:32 , Matt Verri

When David Moyes took a bunch of youngsters to Romania for West Ham’s dead-rubber against FCSB in the Conference League group stage for Christmas, Divin Mubama and Ollie Scarles were the two he trusted with starts.

They’ve almost combined for a lovely goal there.

19:31 , Matt Verri

31 mins: Massive chance!

Scarles whips a superb cross into the box, Mubama free between the centre-backs but he heads over the bar. Should really have scored there.

19:30 , Matt Verri

29 mins: Gower and Marshall challenge for the ball, West Ham man goes down and gets the decision.

Really is great support from the Hammers fans tonight, they’ve filled out the bottom tier of the Clock End.

19:27 , Matt Verri

27 mins: Mubama with an outrageous touch as the ball drops over his shoulder to keep the ball in play, but Arsenal win it back and they can counter.

Gower driving into space, takes too long though and Kelly is swiftly back on the scene to halt the break.

19:25 , Matt Verri

25 mins: Arsenal need to gather themselves, they’ve been rattled by that awful couple of minutes. West Ham firmly on top.

It’s the Hammers with all of the ball at the moment, looking dangerous whenever they come forward.

Malik Ouzia at the Emirates

19:22 , Matt Verri

Slight parallels with the first-team game between these sides a few weeks ago, except condensed into 20 minutes.

Arsenal looked a class apart in the early exchanges but West Ham have suddenly come roaring back.

19:22 , Matt Verri

21 mins: And breathe. What a spell for West Ham, less than two minutes between the goals.

They almost have another too, Earthy has space 20 yards out but this time whips the effort wide.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 West Ham | Marshall 19'

19:19 , Matt Verri

AND NOW THEY LEAD!

West Ham have burst into life all of a sudden and Arsenal cannot deal with them.

Worked down the right, superb ball into the box from Kadua and Marshall has a simple finish from a few yards out.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 West Ham | Earthy 17'

19:17 , Matt Verri

LEVEL!

Superb from Earthy, drives forward and from the edge of the box lashes a strike into the far corner. Cooper has no chance.

Pretty much West Ham’s first attack.

Malik Ouzia at the Emirates

19:15 , Matt Verri

Arsenal’s left-back here is called Lino.

He’s going to spend his entire career thinking he’s getting dogs abuse, whether it’s aimed at him or not.

19:13 , Matt Verri

13 mins: Arsenal playing some really nice football, such a confident start.

West Ham opened up again, Sousa free on the left but his cross into the box is a bit of a shank and straight out of play.

19:11 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Kelly launches himself into a challenge on Gower in midfield, free-kick to the Gunners.

West Ham have not got going at all, struggling to get a touch of the ball at the minute.

Malik Ouzia at the Emirates

19:10 , Matt Verri

Reuell Walters has been on the first-team bench plenty of late, in part because of the defensive injuries in Mikel Arteta’s squad.

But he looked like a men amongst boys as he charged through the middle of the park to create that goal.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 West Ham | Benjamin 8'

19:08 , Matt Verri

ARSENAL TAKE THE LEAD!

The hosts have had a wonderful few minutes and they get their reward.

Cozier-Duberry has his shot saved, rebound falls for Benjamin though and he finishes into the far corner.

19:06 , Matt Verri

6 mins: Or not! Rosiak goes for goal.

It’s a superb effort, very nearly caught the goalkeeper out but Terry just about across in time to stop it sailing into the top corner.

From the resulting corner, Sousa hammers an effort over the bar.

19:05 , Matt Verri

5 mins: Brilliant from Benjamin, as he drops deep and shows lovely footwork to turn into space.

Finds Cozier-Duberry, into the box on his left foot but he loses his balance at pretty much the worst possible time.

Marshall then gives away a cheap free-kick, chance for Arsenal to whip something into the box.

19:03 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Early West Ham corner, as Marshall’s low cross is deflected behind.

Deep to the back post, Casey couldn’t quite get up and enough and he heads over the bar. Bright start from the Hammers.

KICK-OFF!

19:00 , Matt Verri

Underway at the Emirates!

Here we go!

18:56 , Matt Verri

Teams are out onto the pitch, perfect conditions.

We’ve had the national anthem - very nearly time to get up and running in north London!

Malik Ouzia at the Emirates

18:54 , Matt Verri

West Ham have sold out their 7,000 ticket allocation for this game and it’s their section of fans away to our right making all the noise as the players emerge.

They’ve just treated them to a chorus of Bubbles.

Hammers the favourites

18:51 , Matt Verri

These two sides have already met twice this season, and both times West Ham have come out on top.

Probably not going to be in Wilshere’s pre-match team talk...

Gunners getting ready...

18:44 , Matt Verri

Key Hammers players

18:37 , Matt Verri

Divin Mubama

Star striker who has been prolific at both U18 and U21 level this season. Has 17 goals in 23 League games, as well as eight in four in the FA Youth Cup.

Made his first-team debut in the Europa Conference League win over FCSB in November and added a first goal against AEK Larnaca last month.

George Earthy

Lifelong West Ham fan is a technical midfield player who signed his first professional contract last summer having been an U18 regular since the age of 16.

Has four goals and nine assists from just 10 games at U18 level this term and has featured consistently for the U21 side throughout the campaign.

In the building!

18:29 , Matt Verri

Arsenal players who could shine

18:21 , Matt Verri

Myles Lewis-Skelly

Just 16, the midfielder has been one of the shining lights of the Youth Cup run and was the hero in the semi-final win over Manchester City when he scored the winner in the last minute of extra time.

Excellent with the ball at his feet and a player who has impressed with his ability to play under pressure, he is someone Arsenal have high hopes for.

Read more on that here

Goals on the cards

18:13 , Matt Verri

West Ham stick with that front three of Marshall, Kodua and Mubama that has proved so successful, while it’s as expected for Arsenal too. Cozier-Duberry and Nwaneri both start, while Cooper gets the nod over Rojas in goal.

Plenty of attacking talent on show - don’t expect a 0-0!

Arsenal team news

18:04 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Cooper, Rosiak, Robinson, Walters, Sousa, Ibrahim, Lewis-Skelly, Gower, Cozier-Duberry, Benjamin, Nwaneri

Subs: Rojas, Nichols, Kacurri, Brown, Oulad M’Hand, Ferdinand, Kamara

West Ham team news

18:02 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Terry, Battrum, Scarles, Casey, Clayton, Orford, Earthy, Kelly, Marshall, Kodua, Mubama

Subs: Tarima, Herrick, Rigge, Fawunmi, Briggs, Mukasa, Jones

Team news coming up...

17:55 , Matt Verri

We should be getting all the team news from the Emirates in the next few minutes.

Not expecting too many surprises from either side, but all will be revealed very shortly!

David Moyes sends message to West Ham youngsters

17:48 , Matt Verri

“I’m thrilled for the boys, because they also won the league last week,” Moyes said earlier today.

“Now they have a chance to win the FA Youth Cup. A tough encounter for them to go to Arsenal, at Arsenal’s stadium as well.

“But from an FA Youth Cup team you always tend to find two or three players coming through and eventually making their way through to the first team. That’s the aim. There’s a promising group of young players there.

Noble: Special group of West Ham talent

17:36 , Matt Verri

Fixed on the wall behind Mark Noble as he sits at West Ham’s Chadwell Heath academy is a board listing the names of all those who have passed through these corridors en route to a first-team League start.

The stellar names are all there - including Michael Carrick and Joe Cole, part of the last Hammers side to lift the FA Youth Cup back in 1999 - but there have been no new additions since Jeremy Ngakia made his bow against Liverpool in January 2020.

The wait, Noble believes, is almost over, with the player to end it almost certain to be on show tonight at the Emirates.

“I’m hoping two or three of them would be on that board,” says Noble, of a team that has already clinched the Under-18 Premier League South title in runaway fashion by beating the Gunners earlier this month. “They’re a special group and I say to them all the time: ‘It’s over to you’. If you don’t make it, at least put your head on the pillow knowing you did everything.”

Read our full interview with Noble here

Perfect evening for it!

17:28 , Matt Verri

Mertesacker shaping stars of tomorrow

17:20 , Matt Verri

Per Mertesacker hung up his playing boots five years ago, but his pre-match nerves still remain.

As Arsenal’s academy manager, Mertesacker is tasked with developing the stars of tomorrow, and they will be on show tonight at the Emirates.

It is not that, though, which leaves Mertesacker so nervous that he stutters. That happens when the German has conversations with those players who have not made the grade and the club have decided to release them.

“[Those conversations] don’t get any easier,” says Mertesacker. “There is always a different person, a different face. There are emotions involved, you know? I go into these meetings and I am nervous, I stutter when I talk.”

Read Simon Collings’ full piece here

West Ham’s run to the final

17:13 , Matt Verri

West Ham have been on their travels throughout their cup run.

The Hammers beat Sheffield United away from home before Christmas, before travelling to Burnley and Stoke to secure their place in the quarter-finals.

Extra-time was needed to get the better of Ipswich, and West Ham then hammered Southampton in the last-four as Mubama netted a hat-trick.

How Arsenal reached the final

17:06 , Matt Verri

Arsenal began their FA Youth Cup run with a third-round victory over Millwall, before netting in the final seconds to beat Newcastle 3-2 away from home.

It was another 3-2 win in the fifth round as Watford were seen off, and victory at the Emirates over Cambridge then sent the Gunners through to the semi-finals.

Penalties appeared inevitable, only for Lewis-Skelly to score deep into extra-time to leave Manchester City heartbroken.

Standard Sport prediction

16:58 , Matt Verri

These two sides met just ten days ago and it was West Ham who came out on top with a 2-0 win, and their form this season means they have to be viewed as favourites even with Arsenal having home advantage.

With the Hammers so dangerous going forward, and Arsenal far from convincing at the back, it looks likely that this current crop emulates the likes of Michael Carrick and Joe Cole and brings the trophy back to east London.

West Ham to win, 3-1.

West Ham team news

16:50 , Matt Verri

Divin Mubama will be leading West Ham into tonight’s FA Youth Cup final with Arsenal.

The teenager bagged a hat-trick to send the Hammers through to tonight’s showpiece for the first time this century. Mubama scored his first senior goal last month in the Europa Conference League, and has impressed David Moyes with his displays.

“Every time Divin has come on, I tell you what he does, he runs and he does the work and he doesn’t think twice about his effort or anything he does,” Moyes said.

“Because of that, we’re growing to him all of the time. He’s done really well and I’m pleased.”

Gideon Kodua and Callum Marshall are expected to line up alongside Mubama in the front line, while U21 regulars Kaelan Casey and Regan Clayton should also be involved.

Predicted West Ham XI: Terry, Battrum, Scarles, Casey, Clayton, Orford, Earthy, Kelly, Marshall, Kodua, Mubama

Arsenal team news

16:44 , Matt Verri

Amario Cozier-Duberry shone in the semi-final win over Manchester City and Jack Wilshere will be hoping he can once again rise to the occasion against West Ham tonight.

“Amario is very exciting and Mikel [Arteta] likes him,” the Arsenal U18s boss told The Athletic.

“He reminds me of Bukayo Saka, plays in the same position as him, needs to get better with his decision-making like Bukayo did, but he’s definitely exciting. In some moments he’s unplayable.”

Omari Benjamin is set to lead the line, with Michal Rosiak, who scored a brilliant free-kick against City, at right-back and Noah Cooper potentially getting the nod over Alexei Rojas in goal.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Cooper, Rosiak, Robinson, Walters, Sousa, Ibrahim, Lewis-Skelly, Gower, Cozier-Duberry, Benjamin, Nwaneri

How to watch Arsenal vs West Ham

16:36 , Matt Verri

TV channel: The game will be available to watch on the FA Player, with kick-off at 7pm BST.

Live stream: The FA Player is free to watch, but fans will be required to sign up to the platform.

Live blog: You can follow all the action right here, with expert analysis from Malik Ouzia at the ground.

Good afternoon!

16:31 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the FA Youth Cup final between Arsenal and West Ham!

The Gunners have home advantage tonight at the Emirates Stadium, but it’s West Ham who arrive full of confidence and in sensational form after a brilliant season to date.

We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 7pm BST in north London. Stay with us!