Arsenal F.C. Under-21s and Academy

Arsenal Under-21s and Academy
Full nameArsenal Football Club (Under-21s and Academy)
Nickname(s)Hale End
Founded1887; 137 years ago (1887)
GroundMeadow Park
Capacity4,502
Academy ManagerPer Mertesacker
LeagueProfessional Development League (Division 1)
Departments of Arsenal
Men's Football Women's Football
Men's Academy Women's Academy

Arsenal Football Club Academy is the youth system of Arsenal Football Club based in Hale End, London, England. It is often referred to as Hale End eponymously by the club, sports media, and fans.[1][2][3] The academy teams play in the Professional Development League, the highest level of youth football in England. The club also competes in the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League competitions. Former player Per Mertesacker is the current academy manager.[4]

Arsenal Under-21s, previously referred to as the Reserves, is the highest level squad within the setup. They train at the Arsenal Training Centre and play the majority of their home games at Meadow Park,[5] which is the home of Boreham Wood FC. On occasion they also play at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. Senior players occasionally play in the reserve side, as in the case when they are recovering from injury.

Arsenal's Academy is one of England's most successful, winning seven FA Youth Cups together with six Premier Academy League titles altogether.[6][7][8] Numerous international players have graduated from the academy and reserve teams.

  1. ^ "The Breakdown special: Inside Hale End". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Arsenal's £50m bargain: The Hale End academy revolution underpinning Arteta's rebuild | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  3. ^ Stillman, Tim (17 December 2020). "A means to a Hale End". Arseblog ... an Arsenal blog. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Mertesacker". Arsenal website. 19 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Youth sides to play at Meadow Park". 30 July 2013.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ArsenalAward was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Arsenal10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Arsenal09 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).