Academy Preview | Derby day and Derby away

After an extended break, both of our academy sides return to action this weekend as our Under-21s travel to Derby County on Friday night before Stuart Lewis' side head to Arsenal for a north London derby in the Under-18 Premier League.

Wayne Burnett's young side will be looking to bounce back from a frustrating December which saw our Development side go four games without a win in all competitions. A win over the Rams will take them back within a point of the play-off places.

Our Under-18s, meanwhile, will be looking to close the gap on table-topping Aston Villa who are currently four points clear of us, although the Villans have played one game less so far this season.

Under-21s - Derby County (A)

Coverage

No need to brave the sub-zero temperatures to watch this one, as it's LIVE on SPURSPLAY, and we'll keep you up to date via the Spurs App & socials, with a full match report to follow after the final whistle.

The Opposition

The Rams come into tonight's fixture level on points with us in the Premier League 2 table, however they sit slightly behind us on goal difference down in 23rd position.

The Derbyshire side, currently managed by club stalwart Jake Buxton, have won three of their 10 fixtures so far, kicking their season into life at the end of August with a tight 1-0 home win over Newcastle United as Lennon Wheeldon's strike was enough to separate the sides.

Two 4-1 wins then followed against Wolves at the end of September and West Bromwich Albion at the start of November, but the Rams have shipped 10 goals in their two league fixtures since that victory.

Derby also bowed out of their Premier League Cup group despite winning two of their four fixtures, with a heavy 4-1 defeat against Brentford enough to see them knocked out on goal difference.

Buxton's side are currently competing on three further fronts, with a 100% winning record in the Central League as Dajaune Brown and Max Bardell fired them to an opening day victory over Preston North End back in August.

Brown was on target again with a brace, as was winger Riley Moloney before Joe Ward rounded out the scoring in a resounding 5-0 victory over Wrexham, enough to put them second in table with three games in hand over leaders Salford City.

The Rams are currently bottom of their National League Cup group, having picked up just a solitary point from their opening three games. A high-scoring 3-3 draw with Maidenhead United was sandwiched by defeats against Aldershot Town and Wealdstone, meaning they've been eliminated from Group A despite having one further game to play against Woking.

However, the side are through to the Quarter-Finals of the Derbyshire FA Senior Cup following a 3-1 win over Heanor Town last time out. Striker Emmanuel Ilesanmi opened the scoring in the ninth minute before the hosts struck back, with the game level at half-time.

The Rams went back in front just two minutes after the restart thanks to Johnson Osong before Jaydan Davidson secured their progression with an 89th-minute strike to set up a tie with Long Eaton United.

That victory means their record in all competitions so far this season has seen them win eight times in 20 games, picking up one draw and losing 11 times, scoring 31 but conceding 48 times in that run.

One to watch

Derby have had 15 different scorers so far this season but, with top scorer Lennon Wheeldon now on loan at Boston United, Emmanuel Ilesanmi is our pick for this one.

Ilesanmi joined the Rams last summer from League Two side Harrogate Town, having made six first team appearances across the two previous seasons.

The 20-year-old made his senior debut in October, 2021, with a six-minute cameo in Town's 2-0 victory over Newcastle United's Under-23s, and made his league debut the following February, again as a substitute, during a 2-1 defeat to Colchester United at Wetherby Road.

He made his first start for the Sulphurites in September, 2022, in the Carabao Cup, completing 59 minutes in a 1-0 defeat to Stockport County before a short loan at Scarborough Athletic.

No further appearances followed in 2023/24 before his switch to County, which has seen him score three times and provide one assist in six Premier League 2 appearances, adding to his tally last time out by opening the scoring in a 3-1 win over Heanor Town.

Under-18s - Arsenal (A)

Coverage

On Saturday morning, you can keep you up to date with how our Under-18s get on in their north London derby via the Spurs App & socials, with a full match report to follow after the final whistle.

The Opposition

Arsenal come into this one ninth in the Under-18 Premier League table with 10 points, albeit with two games in hand in comparison to most other teams in the division.

The Gunners have won two of their opening nine league games with those wins coming back in August as they edged a five-goal thriller on the opening day against West Ham, before following it up with a narrow 1-0 victory over Chelsea.

Since then, they've played seven league games and scored 14 times but have only earned four points from that run, as three consecutive 3-3 draws against West Brom, Southampton and Brighton were followed by defeats to Aston Villa and Norwich before the end of October.

Another point against Crystal Palace kicked off November before defeat in their last league game against Reading - a victory that lifted the Royals off the foot of the table. 

Adam Birchall's side were also knocked out of the Premier League Cup on goal difference as wins over Liverpool and Birmingham City were followed by a costly defeat to Crystal Palace.

Last time out, they edged a seven-goal thriller against non-league Hertford Town in the FA Youth Cup, a game which saw the Gunners stave off a late fightback from the hosts as they reduced the deficit to just one goal with five minutes to play, however Dan Casey's stunning late 25-yard strike ensured their spot in round four.

So far this campaign Arsenal have won four, drawn four and lost four, scoring 26 and conceding 27.

One To Watch

With eight goals in nine league appearances so far this season, and 11 in all competitions, Dan Casey is the one to watch for this one.

Casey has risen through every age group in the Gunners' Academy before signing a scholarship in the summer of 2023. He then scored in his first appearance for the Under-21s in a friendly against Enfield Town.

This season, the 18-year-old drew a blank on the opening day against West Ham United, but bagged the winner against Chelsea on matchday two before scoring a hat-trick in the 3-3 draw against West Brom.

He struck once again in a thrilling 5-3 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League Cup and was also on the scoresheet against Southampton and West Ham.

A brace against Norwich though wasn't enough to get his side a result as they fell 3-2 to the Canaries. However he proved to be the difference against Hertford Town as, with another brace, he fired his team to a 4-3 victory last time out.

The last five...

We've won each of our last three meetings with the Gunners - all of which have been high-scoring affairs, whilst their last win against us came in 2022, in a game that saw us reduced to 10 men.

7 May, 2022 - Under-18 Premier League - Spurs 0-5 Arsenal

27 August, 2022 - Under-18 Premier League - Arsenal 4-1 Spurs (Ajayi)

18 March, 2023 - Under-18 Premier League - Spurs 3-2 Arsenal (Kyerematen & Donley (2))

26 August, 2023 - Under-18 Premier League - Arsenal 2-4 Spurs (OG, Rowswell, Moore & Akhamrich)

4 May, 2024 - Under-18 Premier League - Spurs 3-2 Arsenal (Olusesi, Ajayi & Willhoft-King)