Vertu Trophy
Group Stage - Game 3
Cardiff City Stadium
Tuesday, November 11th, 2025 - 7:45pm KO
VERTU TROPHY | THE STATE OF PLAY
Tuesday night marks our final group stage fixture in the Vertu Trophy. Here’s what you need to know…
If any game in the group stage is level, we go to penalty kicks. The winner of these will earn two points from the game. The defeated will earn a point.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout phase of the competition. Here’s how things currently stand, with Newport County hosting Exeter City in the second of the group’s remaining fixtures:
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GD | Points | |
| 1 | Arsenal U21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Exeter City | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Newport County | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Cardiff City | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
WORDS FROM THE BOSS
Speaking about the Vertu Trophy, City boss Brian Barry Murphy said: "I've been a big advocate of this competition for a long time for the exposure it gives young players.
"The issue for us last time, and the issue we have again, is that a lot of players are away on international duty. It does mean those we possibly would've liked to have played aren't available to us.
"Against Exeter City, we used a lot of First Team regulars because of this and did have injury issues off the back of that. We have to protect our players. Based on the schedule we've had, Tuesday gives us a chance to utilise our U21 team. They will play in the game against their Arsenal counterparts. I feel it's important for me to be as transparent as possible.
"We had a big crowd for the Newport County game, and we greatly appreciated that. We'll still see a lot of our best young talents on Tuesday night and we look forward to the challenge."
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | KEY STAFF
Academy Manager: Per Mertesacker
Academy Head of Recruitment: Lee Herron
Head of Academy Coaching: Luke Hobbs
U21 Head Coach: Max Porter
U18 Head Coach: Adam Birchall
Arsenal's U21 side are led by Max Porter.
Porter finished his playing career in 2018, following spells with the likes of Barnet, Rushden & Diamonds and Newport County.
He's been coaching within the Gunners' Academy since 2019, starting with their U13 side. After a successful campaign with Arsenal's U19 team last term, Porter was promoted to U21 Head Coach at the beginning of the current campaign. Porter is working towards his UEFA Pro Licence with the FAW.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | SEASON SO FAR
Arsenal U21s have won one, and lost one, of their two fixtures in the Vertu Trophy so far this term.
The begin with a 2-1 away win at Newport County, with Andre Harrison-Annous and Charles Sagoe Jr hitting the net. This was followed up with an exciting 4-3 defeat away in Exeter. Sagoe Jr netted again, alongside Harrison Dudziak and Osman Kamara, as the young Gunners came close to taking a point from the Grecians.
21-year-old Sagoe Jr has been with Arsenal since 2015. He's enjoyed two spells out on loan in the past, with Swansea City and Shrewsbury Town. He was also amongst the goals in their last match, a 1-1 draw with Southampton in Premier League 2 on Friday night. The Gunners are 14th in the league this term.
U21 Squad 2025/26*
GK | Tommy Setford, Remy Mitchell, Khari Ranson, Jack Porter.
DEF | Brayden Clarke, Cam'ron Ismail, Josh Nichols, Will Sweet, Marcell Washington, Marli Salmon, Josiah King, Callan Hamill, Josh Ogunnaike.
MID | Louie Copley, Harrison Dudziak, Demiane Agustien, Teshaun Murisa, Ife Ibrahim.
FOR | Seb Ferdinand, Osman Kamara, Daniel Oyetunde, Charles Sagoe Jr, Archie Stevens, Kyran Thompson, Andre Harrison-Annous, Ceadach O'Neill, Brando Bailey-Joseph.
*The listed players have appeared in the Vertu Trophy this season, or in their last U21 league match.
CLUB CONNECTIONS
The Bluebirds and the Gunners have shared a number of players in the past. The four defensive players we're focussing on came through Arsenal's Academy before later joining the City.
Rhys Weston came through Arsenal's youth setup, and made one top flight appearance for the Club before departing for South Wales in 2000. Weston spent six years at Ninian Park, winning promotion to the Championship with City in 2002/03.
Matthew Connolly didn't directly join the Bluebirds from Arsenal, leaving the Emirates as an Academy graduate in 2008, after loan spells with AFC Bournemouth and Colchester United, to link up with QPR. Matt left Rangers in 2012, signing for the Bluebirds, and winning promotion to the Premier League during his first season. He would remain in South Wales until 2020.
Jordi Osei-Tutu was loaned from Arsenal to City at the beginning of the 2020/21 season. He would go on to make eight appearances during an injury-hit temporary spell.
Jordi's spell at the City just missed out on overlapping with central defender, Mark McGuinness, who left London for Cardiff during the summer of 2021. Macca spent three years with the Bluebirds, before departing for Luton Town in 2024. He returned to the Championship in recent months, signing for Sheffield United.
TICKET INFORMATION & CARDIFF CITY TV
To get your tickets for Tuesday night's game, visit the ticketing website - tickets.cardiffcityfc.co.uk
Unlike Carabao Cup and Emirates FA Cup fixtures, supporters with an international IP address can watch live coverage of our Vertu Trophy fixture with the purchase of an International Match Pass. Click here to buy your Match Pass.
Vertu Trophy fixtures are included in International Monthly and Seasonal Passes.