COLCHESTER United's youngsters take on Arsenal tonight, in the FA Youth Cup.

And tonight's third-round clash at the JobServe Community Stadium revives memories of the last meeting between the two clubs in the competition, back in March 2018.

On that occasion, the Gunners ran out 5-1 winners to progress to the semi-finals of the competition - and two future England stars helped them do so.

Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe were in the Arsenal starting line-up that night to help the visitors go through.

The pair have both gone on to establish themselves in the club's first team under manager Mikel Arteta, in the Premier League.

A few months after featuring against Colchester for the under-18s, Saka made his Europa League debut for Arsenal.

Gazette:

Pleased to meet you - Colchester United goalkeeper Harry Seaden and his team-mates welcome their Arsenal opponents prior to the FA Youth Cup tie between the two clubs, in 2018 

He then made his Three Lions senior debut in October 2020 and since then, has been a regular in Gareth Southgate's squads and starred in their Euro 2020 campaign earlier this year.

It has been a similar upward curve for Smith-Rowe, who also made his Arsenal debut a few months after the game at the U's in September, 2018.

He has gone on to establish himself in the Arsenal squad and also made his senior England debut against Albania last month, before scoring his first international goal against San Marino a few days later.

Gazette:

Colchester had their reigning Player of the Year Noah Chilvers (pictured above) in their starting line-up, in that FA Youth Cup tie.

The likes of Sam Cornish and Andre Hasanally also featured for Liam Bailey's side, that night.

Colchester gave an excellent account of themselves in the quarter-final back in 2018.

Indeed in the first half they must have really worried their more illustrious opponents.

But Arsenal took the lead four minutes before the break when a one-two into the box between Smith-Rowe and Saka saw the former drive his shot into the net.

Colchester levelled soon after half-time when Callum Jones netted from the spot, after Ollie Sims had been clipped in the box by Zech Medley.

However, the Gunners restored their lead a few minutes later through Smith-Rowe, who superbly curled around the wall, past keeper Harry Seaden and in.

The visitors quickly made it 3-1 through Saka, who rounded Seaden and converted after pouncing on Smith-Rowe's pass.

Fol Balogun added a fourth for Arsenal midway through the second half and Xavier Amaechi wrapped up the visitors' win, with 16 minutes remaining.

Potential future stars will be on show again at the Community Stadium tonight, with Colchester's starlets hoping to shine on the big stage.

FA Youth Cup March 2018 teams: Colchester United: Harry Seaden, Rob Howard, Billy Cracknell, George Keys, Ollie Kensdale, Al-Amin Kazeem, Dean Ager, Callum Anderson, Ollie Sims, Noah Chilvers and Callum Jones and used subs: Reuben Mudd, Sam Cornish and Andre Hasanally and unused subs: Kieran Michaels and Callum Coulter.

Arsenal: Joao Virginia, Vontae Daley-Campbell, Dominic Thompson, Robbie Burton Danny Ballard, Zech Medley, Xavier Amaechi, Emile Smith-Rowe, Fol Balogun, Trae Coyle and Bukayo Saka and used subs: Josh Benson and Tobi Omole and unused subs: Daniel Barden, Matthew Smith and Zak Swanson.