Arsenal U21s v West Ham United U21s
Premier League 2, Meadow Park, Saturday 4 October 2025, 1pm BST
West Ham United U21s return to Premier League 2 action this Saturday to face Arsenal at Meadow Park.
Our young Hammers will be looking to channel the frustration from their last game, in which they were defeated 3-1 in the Vertu Trophy at Reading.
Mark Robson’s men had been leading at the break but just a minute into the second half conceded a penalty and were reduced to ten men when Ezra Mayers was deemed to have fouled Jeremiah Okine-Peters as the last man. Although the spot kick was saved, Reading were awarded another penalty late on which was converted before the home side added another in stoppage time to secure all three points.
Otherwise, our U21s lost just one of their five games during the month of September, scoring first in all five of them, a feat they will be looking to replicate come Saturday in Borehamwood.
Premier League 2 Explained…
To minimise the impact of relegation on future groups of U21 players, the Premier League introduced a new format to its development phase competition in 2023/24.
Replacing the two-division system, the 29 Category One academies now compete in a single tier with 20 regular season fixtures before the top 16 seeded teams advance to single-elimination play-offs.
Regular season fixtures are determined by a draw made according to clubs’ performances over the last three seasons. Each team plays 20 different opponents before the play-offs in April and May, where they will be drawn against each other based on league positions, with the higher seeded team playing at home. The top 16 are also rewarded with a place in the following season’s Premier League International Cup competition.
New for this season, the eight clubs finishing between 17th and 24th will enter a cross-category play-off competition alongside the top eight teams from the Professional Development League (Category Two). This competition will also feature a knockout format, starting with a round of 16.
Travel...
To reach Meadow Park (WD6 5AL) from east London or Essex, the easiest route is to take the M25 westbound around the north section from Essex into Hertfordshire. Exit the M25 at Junction 23, join the A1 towards London, and take the first exit onto the A5135 towards Borehamwood. Continue into the town centre, go straight over the first mini-roundabout, then at the larger roundabout take the second exit onto Brook Road (signposted ‘Boreham Wood Football Club’). Turn next right onto Broughinge Road; the stadium entrance is on the right. Supporters should use the Brook Road pay-and-display car park.
By train, the nearest station is Elstree & Borehamwood, on the Thameslink line from St Pancras to Luton and Bedford. From the station, it’s under a mile to walk, or you can take the 292 bus.
How To Follow...
The game will be blogged live on the Club’s website, app and YouTube channel. A match report, highlights and reaction will also follow the full-time whistle.
Opposition…
Arsenal U21s are on a four-game winning streak, which includes an impressive win in the Vertu Trophy over Newport County, where they dominated possession and recorded 17 attempts on goal, forcing Newport goalkeeper Jordan Wright into no less than six saves.
Since our last meeting in February, when captain Kaelan Casey led our young Hammers to a 1-0 victory at Rush Green Stadium, we have only lost twice in 12 league games. During that run, they reached the Premier League 2 quarter-finals, where they were only defeated by former Hammer Divin Mubama’s extra-time goal, having led by two against the eventual champions, Manchester City. In fact, Arsenal were the only team that led against the young Citizens on their way to lifting their record-breaking fourth PL2 title.
Recent players to have come through Arsenal's academy ranks and become regular features in their senior team include the likes of Ethan Nwaneri, who became the youngest ever player to play in the Premier League when he made his debut in 2022, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and most recently Max Dowman.
Previous Meeting...
As mentioned, our U21s last faced Arsenal on a rainy evening at Rush Green Stadium in February.
A goal straight out of half-time from captain Casey proved to be enough to see off the young Gunners in a dominant display from Robson's men.
The 1-0 victory was part of a seven-game winning streak in the league which saw our U21s score eleven goals while conceding just two.
The Story So Far...
Having opened our account for the 2025/26 Premier League 2 campaign with defeats against the reigning Premier League International Cup champions, Nottingham Forest, and reigning Premier League 2 champions, Manchester City, the young Hammers hit their stride in September.
Robson’s men recorded victories over MK Dons in the Vertu Trophy and Birmingham City in Premier League 2. They also drew 3-3 against an in-form Brighton & Hove Albion side last Friday.
Last time out, our young Hammers were on course to take all three points at Reading in the Vertu Trophy, which would have seen us all but qualify for the knockout stages, but a red card just a minute into the second half gave Reading the platform to come from behind and secure a 3-1 victory. Our U21s still lead the group on goal difference going into our final game against Swindon Town later this month.
