Feature

Young Gun: Marcus Agyei-Tabi

Young Gun Marcus Agyei-Tabi
Marcus Agyei-Tabi

In Young Guns, featured first in the official matchday programme, we find out about the next generation of Arsenal youngsters, in their own words. This week we spoke to midfielder Marcus Agyei-Tabi.

I started playing football when I was about three years old, my two older brothers used to take me to the park and play. I loved having a ball at my feet.

My mum used to take me to a place where there were kids having a kick about and one of the people that worked there saw me with the ball, spoke to my mum and said that she should take me to play for a Sunday League team.

He gave her details and I went along to join a team called Long Lane FC and so I was part of a team from a very young age. I first joined the Gunners when I was five but I was playing against Arsenal for Long Lane when I was spotted.

The match was played in Rotherhithe against an Arsenal Development team. I had a good game at right wing and I was asked to come along and train with Arsenal.

There were quite a few players in the setup and we were eventually whittled down to a group of 20 over the course of about a year and a half.

My mum and I would make the two-hour trip after school to Hale End. We would take buses and a train and as I got older, any homework that I had was done during that time. It was all worth it to be here at Arsenal and have the opportunity now available to me.

 

Marcus Agyei-Tabi

 

 

From the time I joined Arsenal until the under-10s, I was a right winger but then one day I was asked to fill in at central midfield and I have stayed there ever since. I can play wide right if I have to, but I play mainly in the middle.

I enjoy having a lot of the ball and be able to make a mark on games, to dominate. The player I most like to learn from is Thiago Alcantara of Bayern Munich. His fluid play and imposing style is the way I try to play.

Now I’m a full-time scholar, which is a big difference. Training and games are a more intense. Everything you do has to be on point and you have to be focused all the time to get the most out of the sessions.

"I’m attack-minded as a player but I'am trying to develop my heading and tackling"

Marcus Agyei-Tabi

Our coaches are a big help. I work a lot with Kwame Ampadu and Thierry Henry. Kwame knows how to build relationships with players to get the best out of us. Thierry is able to draw on his amazing experience and apply it to any particular situation or aspect of the game that we are working on. He has an ability that ensures when he talks, you listen.

The matches are enjoyable and we are doing well in the under-18s in terms of performances and results this year. We always want to win, but there is still an emphasis on development.

That’s why I really enjoy international football because the result is all important. I have played for the Republic of Ireland since under-15s as my mum Patricia has Irish heritage.

The games sometimes turn into long ball affairs. I always try to get the ball down and play, but a lot of the time it is flying over my head which is frustrating, but I like the fact the result really counts, especially in qualification games.

I’m attack-minded as a player but am trying to develop my heading and tackling so that I can be an all round central midfielder. Hopefully I progress enough this year to feature in the under-21s after becoming a regular in the under-18s.

A few favourites

…positions I can play in

Central midfield, attacking midfield and right wing

…best aspect of my game

Passing, close touch and dribbling

…things I can improve on

Everything, always room for improvement

…footballing heroes

Thierry Henry, Thiago Alcantara and Andres Iniesta

…favourite food

Sunday roast

…best friends in football

Charlie Gilmour and Joshua Dasilva

…most used apps

Instagram and Twitter - follow me @MTabi10

…favourite TV series

Towie and Keeping up with the Kardashians

…tracks on my ultimate playlist

Party Next Door feat Drake

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Fixtures & Results

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