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U-19s: Arsenal v Basel - Preview

Chris Willock

Chris Willock believes the Uefa Youth League is a perfect practice run for first-team football.

The 18-year-old made his senior debut in the 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup, but his attentions have quickly returned to Andries Jonker’s set-up as they prepare to face Basel on Wednesday.

"From a young age that’s the aim and the goal, and that’s what I’ve always been working towards. I was really proud and it was a proud moment for me and my family."

Chris Willock

“It’ll be hard. It’ll be a good test for the team and hopefully we can win,” Willock told Arsenal.com. “I think we did alright in drawing against PSG.

“The Youth League is always good, it’s like a practice run of what it’s going to be like playing at the top level for the first team in the Champions League. It’s something I enjoy and my team-mates do as well.

“You come up against different styles and teams and it’s different to playing in England because you’re always playing against different teams in Europe, so it poses difference challenges.”

It’s been a whirlwind week for Willock, who is now looking to use his first taste of playing under Arsene Wenger in a competitive match as motivation for the future.

“It was a really good experience, I learnt quite a lot and I was just happy to get on the pitch and make my debut,” he said. "Hopefully I can get more minutes for the first team.

“From a young age that’s the aim and the goal, and that’s what I’ve always been working towards. I was really proud and it was a proud moment for me and my family.”

Follow @Arsenal on Twitter for updates from Meadow Park, with kick-off at 14:00 (UK time) on Wednesday. Stay close to Arsenal.com for all the post-match reaction.

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