Our Young Gun series gets to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Dan Casey spoke to us recently, and here's what he had to say about his breakthrough season, being versatile and more.
This season has been a breakthrough for me, partly because I’ve been able to stay injury-free and play regularly. Last season I missed a lot of time due to injury, so it’s been great to have more minutes on the pitch and show what I can do. I’ve worked hard on my finishing in training, and it’s reflected in my goals.
Although I see myself as a No10, I’ve also played up front quite a bit and I’m happy to play wherever the team needs me to play.
I’ve had the opportunity to train with the first team, which has been an amazing experience. At times it’s just to make up numbers, but during international breaks I’ve been able to get involved in full sessions. The drills vary depending on the focus – sometimes it’s technical, and other times it’s more fitness-based.
There was one moment I’ll never forget. During an 11v11 drill, I played in the pocket alongside Martin Odegaard. I did a nice turn and played a pass out to Raheem Sterling, and afterwards the captain said, “Well done.” That was a really special moment for me because he’s someone I really look up to.
When I was younger I was a Liverpool fan and loved watching Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho. But now, playing for Arsenal, I really look up to Odegaard. He’s a top player.
I’ve also taken great inspiration from seeing Ayden Heaven, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, who are in my scholarship group, making their first-team debuts. It’s so inspiring. Myles and Ethan have even been getting minutes in the Premier League and Champions League. It motivates me because if they can do it, so can I.
"I've known Birch for almost eight years. He's had a massive impact on my development."
In terms of the competitions I’ve played in, the UEFA Youth League has been a fantastic experience for me. Of course, we would have liked to progress further, but it’s been great to play against different teams and styles from across Europe. The matches were tough and competitive – once you go 1-0 down, it’s hard to recover.
One key takeaway is understanding the contrasting styles of play. For example, teams like Sporting Lisbon are very technical and great at keeping the ball, while French teams like PSG and Monaco, as well as Shakhtar from Ukraine, are physical but also very technical and can play out of tight spaces. It’s a steep learning curve, but invaluable for my development.
One area I want to improve is my defensive game – winning more duels and becoming stronger off the ball. It’s a key part of the game for midfielders like me.
There was obviously a change for us when Jack Wilshere left and, despite getting on really well with Jack, I was really happy that Adam Birchall stepped up as the under-18s head coach. I’ve known Birch for almost eight years, and he’s had a massive impact on my development. He’s very similar to Jack tactically, as they worked together, but what he really excels at is his one-to-one communication. He gives great advice on how to improve, and that’s been crucial for me.
My goals for the rest of the season are simple: keep playing well, go far in the FA Youth Cup, and be the best player I can be. I want to maintain this form, continue progressing with the under-21s, and, if possible, get more opportunities with the first team.
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