U18s preview: West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal

Our under-18s kick-off their 2026/27 campaign with a trip to the West Midlands to face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon (12pm UK).

Adam Birchall's side finished tenth in last season's U18s Premier League South, a result we'll be looking to improve on this time around.

Our pre-season preparations have seen our young Gunners beat MK Dons in an under-18s clash, as well as earning a battling draw with Boreham Wood's first team as part of an Arsenal XI.

THE OPPOSITION

West Bromwich Albion enjoyed a successful 2025/26 season, finishing sixth with 14 wins and four draws in 28 league games.

The Baggies amassed 46 points in the U18 Premier League South, only finishing behind Crystal Palace on goal difference.

Our first meeting last season ended in a hard-fought win for West Brom, who edged a five-goal thriller 3-2 at the Sobha Realty Training Centre in October, before Maalik Hashi's free-kick secured a 1-0 win away from home in March.

HOW TO FOLLOW

We get the new season underway at 12pm (UK) in the West Midlands, with live updates available on our Academy X channel from team news all the way through to full-time.

Post-match, don't miss highlights and exclusive interviews with under-18s head coach Adam Birchall and one of our young Gunners on The Arsenal app and Arsenal.com.