It’s been eight years since Arsenal last won the FA Youth Cup - when they thrashed Liverpool 6-2 on aggregate in the final.

After winning the Youth Cup, clubs are usually hopefully that a handful of the players can make the step up to first-team football.

However, that’s not always the case - especially these days.

With Premier League clubs having plenty of money to sign whoever they want, the need to promote young players through their academy isn’t quite as strong as it used to be.

That’s not to say the hottest prospects don't make it because, as we’ve seen on numerous occasions, they certainly do. But what happens to the majority of the youngsters that graduate?

Well, we’ve decided to look a look at Arsenal’s victorious youth side from the 2008/09 season and asked: ‘Where are they now?’

Goalkeeper | James Shea

Shea failed to play a competitive match for Arsenal before signing for Needham Market in 2013, and then Harrow Borough.

He signed for League One side AFC Wimbledon in 2014, where he’s currently the club’s number one.

Defence | Craig Eastmond

Eastmond played 10 times for the first-team before signing for Colchester permanently in 2013.

A spell at Yeovil followed before he signed for Sutton United in 2015 and played against Arsene Wenger’s side in the FA Cup this season.

Defence | Thomas Cruise

Tom Cruise is now a famous actor. Oh, wait, wrong one.

This Tom Cruise played just once for Arsenal - a Champions League match against Olympiacos in 2009 before leaving the club in 2011.

He signed for Torquay United in 2012 but was released in April 2015. He’s now without a club.

Defence | Kyle Bartley

Bartley’s only game for Arsenal was also that Champions League match against Olympiacos in December 2009.

After loan spells at Sheffield United and Rangers, he signed permanently for Swansea in 2012. He’s played a handful of Premier League matches for the Swans but has also been out on loan at Birmingham and is currently on loan at Leeds.

Defence | Luke Ayling

Ayling failed to play a match for Arsenal and signed for Yeovil in 2010. Four seasons at Huish Park was followed by two campaigns at Bristol City.

He’s now at Leeds, alongside Bartley, as he attempts to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Midfield | Emmanuel Frimpong

Frimpong threatened to break into the Arsenal first-team, playing 16 times during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons.

However, after numerous loan spells, he signed for Barnsley before moving to Russia to play for Ufa.

He obviously missed Arsenal and signed for their namesake - Arsenal Tula - before recently moving to Sweden to play for Eskilstuna.

Midfield | Henri Lansbury

Lansbury made eight appearances in Arsenal’s first-team before Nottingham Forest signed him in 2012.

The midfielder spent four-and-a-half seasons with Forest - scoring 33 goals in 150 appearances - before he signed for Aston Villa this January for £3m.

Midfield | Francis Coquelin

Coquelin has been a regular in the Arsenal side in previous seasons and is approaching his 150 appearance for the club.

He’s had loan spells at Lorient in France, Freiburg in Germany and Charlton earlier in his career but the 25-year-old signed a long-term deal at the club in January.

Midfield | Jack Wilshere

It seemed as though Wilshere would be a future Arsenal captain but, after a number of injuries, his progress was stunted.

He now finds himself on loan at Bournemouth and it’s still unclear whether he has a future at the Emirates or not.

Striker | Gilles Sunu

Sunu played twice for Arsenal during the 2009/10 season before signing for Lorient on a permanent deal in 2010.

He now finds himself at Angers in Ligue 1.

Striker | Jay Emmanuel-Thomas

Emmanuel-Thomas played five times for the first-team but, after loan spells at Blackpool, Doncaster and Cardiff, signed for Ipswich in 2011.

He then moved to Bristol City before going to QPR in 2015.

He’s since had loan spells at MK Dons and Gillingham but remains on the books at QPR.