Arsenal in the Community was represented by a boys and a girls team at the 2014 Premier League Kicks Cup at Hackney Marshes on Saturday.
The boys’ under-16s side reached the quarter finals of the nationwide tournament, which brought together 47 clubs from Kicks projects across the country.
Premier League Kicks is a nation-wide social inclusion programme that uses the power of football to build safer, stronger communities.
In 2013/14, the Arsenal Kicks project engaged over 900 young people across Islington, Camden, Hackney and Westminster with 46 of these participants being supported into employment and 159 gaining accredited qualifications through the programme.
Former Gunner Fabrice Muamba attended Saturday’s tournament and said: "I can see how Premier League Kicks can work so well in keeping people on the right path, away from trouble.
“It's great to see so many kids playing, enjoying the game, coming from all parts of the country and coming together to experience different people and different cultures.
“Football can teach you respect and you learn to appreciate other people's cultures, backgrounds and learn how to work together with such people to become successful as a team.
That's what I definitely learnt from my football experience - you have people in the dressing room all from different backgrounds and different beliefs, but you have to work together as a team if you want to be a success. Also, the people here will see other teams from different places and see how they approach the game and learn from that."
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