Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere welcomed the latest group of young hopefuls when they signed to join the club at the weekend.
Jack, who came through the Arsenal academy from the age of nine, spent time giving the youngsters some tips on what it takes to succeed, and posed for pictures as they visited the club’s training ground.
He said: “It was great to spend some time with the boys. It is obviously very early days but I wish them every success.”
The group of 21 players have been with the academy throughout the current under-8 season, training twice per week and playing in friendly matches against other professional clubs at weekends including Liverpool, Birmingham, Aston Villa, Leicester, Swansea and Cardiff City.
They have now been selected to join the academy as the Under-9 group for the 2015/16 season.
Head of the Arsenal academy, Andries Jonker, said: “This is the start of their Arsenal journey and we look forward to helping the boys develop and fulfil their potential.”
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