Arsenal U21s v West Ham United U21s
Premier League 2 Division 1, Meadow Park, Friday 17 February 2023, 7pm GMT
West Ham United U21s will be looking to earn a sixth win in seven league matches when they travel to Borehamwood to face Arsenal on Friday.
A 1-0 win over Fulham last Friday evening, secured through Divin Mubama's strike, continued a good run of form for Mark Robson's side, who are looking up the Premier League 2 Division 1 table after a slow start to the season. The Irons now sit tenth in the 14-team league, with 17 points from as many games played.
Arsenal sit fourth in the standings with 26 points from 15 games played, albeit eight points behind leaders Manchester City, but with one game in-hand and eleven matches still to play, and the Gunners will still be hopeful of winning the title for the first time since 2017/18.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Friday’s London derby...
Tickets…
Admission is free for all supporters at Meadow Park, so there is no need to purchase a ticket in advance. Gates will open an hour before kick-off at 6pm.
Travel…
Fans traveling by car are advised to make use of the Brook Road car park, which is situated next door to Boreham Wood FC. The post code is WD6 5QH.
Supporters intending to use public transport should note that the nearest train station is Elstree & Borehamwood, which is on the Thameslink line from London St Pancras International and is a short walk from the stadium.
Fans using public transport are advised to check their journeys before travel, with resources such as TfL's Journey Planner or the TfL Go app helping to plan your journey.
Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website to plan their journey.
How To Follow…
Fans will also be able to follow all the action in our live blog at whufc.com, which will begin one hour before kick-off at 6pm.
Match updates, including goals, will also be available as they happen on our Twitter feed.
Highlights from the Hammers’ match against Arsenal will also be made available after the match at whufc.com and on the official West Ham United YouTube channel shortly after, as will exclusive reaction from the fixture.
Team News…
Lead coach Mark Robson may be tempted to keep faith with a similar starting XI to the team who defeated Fulham in a tactical outing at Rush Green Stadium last Friday.
Divin Mubama continued his recent goalscoring form with another finish, netting his tenth of the season for the U21s, and will be optimistic of retaining his place.
U18s regulars Ollie Scarles and Gideon Kodua are also both pushing for the starting XI, after featuring on the bench against Fulham.
Opposition…
There are few guarantees in football, but it seems Arsenal competing at the top of the Premier League 2 table is one of them.
It is rare for the north London side to not be involved in the pursuit of the title at development level and this season is proving no exception, although Mehmet Ali's team's recent form has seen them fall away slightly.
The Gunners currently sit fourth, eight points behind leaders Manchester City having played one game fewer. Three losses in the last four league games have seen hopes of a title slip away from the pinnacle of the division.
Striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji leads the way for the Gunners, with six goals in Premier League 2 this season, while 17-year-old winger Amario Cozier-Duberry has played a role in nine goals, with five goals of his own and four assists for others.
Two other forwards, Charles Sagoe Jr and Marquinhos, have each scored four goals and provided two assists respectively, making Arsenal one of the most potent attacking forces in the division.
Defensively, only leaders Manchester City, Liverpool and Fulham have conceded fewer goals so far this campaign too.
