WALKING past the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening you could have been forgiven for doubting whether Arsenal really were playing 120 miles up the road at Aston Villa.
The roars from the ground suggested Cesc Fabregas and Co were at home but a peek inside put an end to that theory.
In fact, the 38,187 crowd were there to witness the latest batch of Arsenal youngsters as they took on Manchester United in the first leg of an FA Youth Cup semi-final.
The attendance, a record for the competition, is mind-boggling.
It would have packed out Highbury and — turn away now Tottenham fans — been a couple of thousand too many for White Hart Lane to accommodate.
Those who forked out the cut-price entrance fees were in for a treat.
Two of the country's top teams, both famed for nurturing their own youngsters, battled it out in a way the seniors would have been proud of.
Arsenal and United have both experienced mixed fortunes when producing their own players in the last decade or so.
The Gunners have only recently benefited from their investment in youth with emerging stars such as Fabregas, Johan Djourou, Emmanuel Eboue and Gael Clichy all part of their first team.
But cynics continue to point to Arsenal's reliance on snatching young foreigners from the arms of European sides without doing the painstaking work themselves.
United, meanwhile, never had it so good as 10 years ago when David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, all broke through.
But since those youngsters stormed to the Premiership title, the production line has slowed considerably.
In fact, United have come nowhere near repeating that trick. Kieran Richardson, John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher may still be at Old Trafford but are not considered to be in the same class as their predecessors.
That trend looks set to continue given last night's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.
As a unit, United were impressive. They were quick, strong, aggressive and organised.
But it was difficult to envisage many, if any, of the individuals making the grade.
Skipper Craig Cathcart — the only British player to be selected for the recent Europe Under-18 clash with their African counterparts — was solid but a long, long way off what is required from a Champions League centre-back.
A youngster touted at Old Trafford for seemingly an eternity is Febian Brandy, now in his eighth year at the club.
The quick striker is a bag of tricks but the lingering feeling is his attitude may triumph over his aptitude.
Watching him was like witnessing Leon Knight — the incredibly talented Chelsea product whose poor attitude blew his big chance at Stamford Bridge — all over again.
On this evidence, Sir Alex Ferguson will be lucky to have another academy success to cherish before his retirement.
As for Arsenal, the future is brighter — although, unsurprisingly, their star pupils herald from the continent.
Fran Merida, who recently signed a four-year deal after arriving last summer, could not be more of a clone of Fabregas if he tried.
The Spanish midfielder has followed the same route — leaving Barcelona at an early age — as his elder countryman.
He dominated the centre of the park last night in the manner the Arsenal hierarchy expect him to do in the Premiership towards the end of the decade.
Boss Arsene Wenger has a ready-made replacement for when Fabregas finally falls for the lure of his homeland.
Elsewhere, Armand Traore again demonstrated why many believe he will be installed as Arsenal's first-choice left-back next season.
The Frenchman, who set up Kieran Gibbs' goal, was faultless in defence — admittedly helped by several first-team appearances this season — and has raised serious questions about the long-term future of Gael Clichy.
But what about the Englishman? Well, for once Arsenal must take some credit on this front.
In attack was skipper Jay Simpson, scorer of a hat-trick against Cardiff in the previous round that set up this double-header against United.
On this evidence, Simpson has the lot. The No 9 was powerful, quick, skilful and dangerous both in the air and on the floor. Arsenal may have finally unearthed an English gem.
Ex-Gunners defender Steve Bould, coach of the side, said after the game: "We've got some good players coming through.
"It doesn't matter where they come from because we all work together.
"The old adage of British players getting up-and-at-them has gone.
"Whoever comes in we get them to play in an Arsenal way. It doesn't matter where they come from but it is nice that some of them are local."
When Wenger sits down to watch the tape, he may well utter those words himself.
scholes and co will not be required.
