Blackburn's youngsters are Gunner be tested at Highbury

Downes and his trusty assistant Rob Kelly may have performed miracles over the last two years to keep Rovers at the forefront of English football's youth revolution.

But even he admits his young guns have a mountain to climb against an Arsenal side which cost a staggering £7.5 million to put together.

"It's quite awesome when you really think about it," said Downes. "They've spent about £7 million on assembling their youth team and a lot of those are players who they've brought in from all corners of the world.

"I'm not saying that's the right way or the wrong way to go, but the fact is they've got some very good young players.

"In many ways, we might have been able to take in some foreigners ourselves if we'd stayed in the Premier League and that's probably an example of where we've lost out in the last two years.

"Ideally, you want kids from Blackburn coming through like David Dunn but reality says you've got to get them from wherever you can get them from.

"And with Arsene Wenger's contacts, Arsenal can drag these guys in from all over the place."

While Rovers' squad is made up of players from the home nations, Arsenal's side contains imports from France, Germany and Brazil.

Young striker Jeremie Aliadiere is a typical example of the talent they have at their dispossal.

A graduate of the French National School in Clarefontaine, which also nurtured Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka, he scored four times in the Gunners semi-final win over Ipswich.

And Downes is in no doubt he's one of the dangermen to watch.

"Aliadiere and Jermaine Pennant up front are, obviously, going to be a real threat but they've got quality right through the team," said Downes.

"We are three years down the road with Academies whereas people like the French have had them up and running for 12 years.

"So they've had the run on us for so many years and they have very talented players.

"We went to watch some recent UEFA Under 16 games and the standard is very, very high.

"So we're behind all that at the minute but Arsenal have fast-tracked that in a way, though, by bringing in players from all around the world."

Meanwhile, former England coach Don Howe believes his young Gunners are ready to show Arsene Wenger they are ready for a first team chance by turning on the style against Rovers.

Gunners coach Howe insists some of his scholars are now first team material and he's begging Wenger to give them a chance.

"We have an outstanding set of young players, who think they are going to make it and that is the right attitude to have," said Howe. "But no manager will know if the players are ready until they give them a chance.

"Ashley Cole is an example here -- when they give them a chance they might find themselves quite surprised.

"There is no doubt in my mind that two or three of the youngsters are ready for a chance now.

"I don't like naming names, but David Noble, John Halls and Jermaine Pennant and one or two more are all worth a chance, no doubt about it. And I think, given a chance, they will surprise a lot of people."

"I understand that it is difficult because points are more important than blooding a young player these days, but it should be the other way around."

Howe is anticipating a close game against Rovers but he's backing his youngsters to go one better than the first team who lost their FA Cup Final to Liverpool last Saturday.

"The FA Youth Cup is just as big for these academy boys as the main FA Cup is for the first team," said Howe.

"It is just as exciting and important to them.

"Blackburn have done well, they have a good academy and have a few good young players coming through.

"But if we play as well as we did against Ipswich in the semi-final then we've got a very good chance.

"Our lads have played some outstanding football to get to this final.

"The second half against Ipswich was some of the best football we've ever played at this level."

The youngsters who carry Rovers hopes in the FA Youth Cup final

Ryan Robinson: Spot-kick hero in the semi-final second leg against Liverpool. Goalkeeper from Cumbria now in his second year.

Michael Cole: Pacey full-back in his first year at the Academy. Like Byrne and Blakeman, hails from West Lancs.

Robert Woodhead: Left-sided defender from Manchester.

Michael Taylor: Liverpool-born defender and captain of the side. Inspirational leader who missed the semi-final second leg through injury.

Danny Stone: Uncompromising centre back currently in his second year. Hails from Formby.

Darren Hockenhull: Solid, reliable, right-sided midfielder from St Helens.

Neil Danns: England Schoolboy international at home in midfield or attack.

Liam Blakeman: A central midfielder currently in his second year. Played several games in the reserves this season.

Jerome Watt: England Under 16 international midfielder who hails from Preston.

Ryan Hevicon: Speedy left-winger currently in his second year at Brockhall.

Jonathan Walters: Prolific marksman with the Under 17s this season. Scored a last minute winner to eliminate Coventry.

Mark Byrne: A striker who hails from Ormskirk. Scored a vital goal against Colchester in a previous round.

Alan Morgan: Left-sided midfielder who hails from Scotland. Scored from the spot in Rovers' shoot-out victory over Liverpool.

Keiron Renton: Another of a trio of Scots in their first year at Brockhall. Represented Scotland at both Under 15 and Under 16 level.

Ciaran Donnelly: Rovers supporter who hails from Blackpool. Represented England at both Under 15 and Under 16 level.

Anthony Martin: Republic of Ireland Youth international. Missed the second leg of the semi-final with Liverpool through injury.

Adam Nelson: Scottish Schoolboy international from Mid-Lothian. Currently in his first year.

David Stevenson: Goalkeeper from Blackpool who has represented England at both Under 15 and Under 16 level.

Andrew Bell: Talented striker and former pupil at QEGS. Has represented England at both Under 15 and Under 16 level.

Hugh Davey: Northern Ireland Schoolboy international from County Down. Plays on the left-hand side of midfield.

The Young Gunners

Craig Holloway: Ever present in the Youth Cup. Has played for England Under-15s.

Nicky Nicolau: A regular for Arsenal Under-19s and has been called into the reserves' squad.

Israel: Talented Brazilian right-back in the Cafu mould who has played in all but one of the games so far.

Moritz Volz: Full-back or midfielder who made his first team debut in Arsenal's Worthington Cup defeat earlier this season to Ipswich Town.

Ben Chorley: Inspirational captain, but will miss tonight's match through suspension.

Sebastian Svard: Danish defender who joined the club earlier in the season from FC Copenhagen.

Ryan Garry: Can play anywhere across the backline and is an England U16 International.

Alex Bailey: Right-back who combines tenacity and pace. Has represented England Under-16s.

Justin Hoyte: Substitute appearance against Ipswich at Highbury makes him the only Schoolboy to have featured this season. Starred for England in the UEFA Under-16 Championships.

Steven Sidwell: Goal-scoring midfielder who netted in both legs of last year's final success.

Stephen Santry: Central midfielder who loves to get forward. Has suffered through injury this season.

Rohan Ricketts: A stalwart of last season's campaign and ever-present this year. A regular for England Under-18s.

John Spicer: A powerful central midfielder who has played for England U14, U15 and U16s.

Jerome Thomas: Winger who scored the winning goal in the semi-final. An ever present in the Youth Cup and has featured in the reserves.

Jermaine Pennant: Arsenal's youngest ever first team player at 16 years 319 days. England under-18 International.

Jermaine Brown: Can operate in either midfield or attack and is a regular goal scorer.

David Bentley: Gifted striker who is the only member of the squad with his own website!

Jeremie Aliadiere: Arsenal's top scorer in the competition, scoring four goals in the semi-final. A graduate of the famed Clarefontaine Academy in France.

Carlin Itonga: Hit a record seven goals in an U19 Academy match earlier this season.