COLCHESTER United play host to Arsenal under-21s tonight, looking to secure their progress into the knockout stages of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

Both sides know that a win will secure them progress out of Southern Group E and ensure their continued participation in this season's competition.

A draw and then a bonus point from the resultant penalty shoot-out will also be enough to seal their route through to the next stage.

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Arsenal's under-21s, managed by Mehmet Ali, boast a talented squad of young players who like the U's, will be aiming to go further in this season's competition.

And several of the players likely to face the U's tonight have already tasted first-team action, with the Gunners.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, who starred for the club in their run to the FA Youth Cup Final in 2023, has already made seven senior appearances for Arsenal.

The highly-rated teenager made his Premier League debut for the club earlier in the season when he came off the bench in the latter stages of their 2-2 draw at Manchester City, in September.

The 18-year-old defender also featured as a substitute in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the Emirates last month, along with coming off the bench in the Gunners' Champions League wins over Paris St Germain and Shakhtar, this season.

(Image: JOHN WALTON/PA)

Lewis-Skelly also played in the their win over Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup third round, in September, as did fellow Albanian defender Maldini Kacurri.

The 19-year-old came on as a 70th-minute substitute for Riccardo Calafiori in their 5-1 victory, in September.

Kacurri has also featured for their under-21s in both of their opening group games in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy group stages, a 2-1 win at Leyton Orient and a 2-2 draw with MK Dons.

Another player to make his senior debut for Arsenal this season in the Carabao Cup was striker Ismeal Kabia, who came on in the 81st minute for Raheem Sterling against Bolton along with Josh Nichols, who also made his first competitive appearance for the North London side against the Trotters and played the full 90 minutes.

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Defender Zane Monlouis, who signed his first professional contract in 2020, has League One experience following a loan spell at Reading last season as has forward Khayon Edwards, who played seven times on loan at Leyton Orient in the 2023-24 season.

The same can be said for forward Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who has had loan spells with Cheltenham Town and Accrington Stanley.