Arsenal U18s FA Youth Cup hopes in the balance after 2-2 draw at Blackpool

Arsenal under-18s hope of a first appearance in the FA Youth Cup Final since 2009 remain in the balance after Blackpool twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at Bloomfield Road.

The last Gunners side to lift the trophy included the likes of Jack Wilshere and Francis Coquelin but the young guns will need to at least avoid defeat at the Emirates on April 16 if they are to reach the two-legged final.

Tyreece John-Jules and Xavier Amaechi struck for the Gunners, who saw a penalty saved by Craig Thordarson with the score at 2-1, but on each occasion found themselves pegged back by a Blackpool side who had beaten three category one academy sides to reach the last four.

Kwame Apadu’s Arsenal side took the lead on the half-hour mark when John-Jules turned home a corner, his third goal in the competition after finding the net in fourth and fifth round wins over Liverpool and Middlesbrough.

However their lead did not last until the interval before Dylan Sumner brought the Tangerines level. Amaechi restored the Gunners’ advantage on 64 minutes and it could have been more three minutes later but Thordarson saved a spot-kick from Trae Coyle after Blackpool defender Will Avon conceded a penalty.

The Gunners were made to pay on 74 minutes when Blackpool captain Ben Jacobson struck an equaliser that leaves the tie finely poised ahead of next month’s second leg. The winner of that tie will face Chelsea, winner of the competition in each of the last four years, or Birmingham City in the final.