Throughout the season, we'll be catching up with our young Gunners to find out more about their route to our academy. This week, James Sweet discusses how he ended up playing for the team he supported, and his emotions after being named on the first-team bench for our League Cup tie at Brentford.
I grew up in south west London around Wimbledon and football became my passion early on. I started playing at the local park at the age of four, joining training sessions organised by my dad’s friend. I also played for my primary school’s football team at Bishop Gilpin and we were a really good team. On top of that, I also played at Sunday League level and this further boosted my confidence and ambition to pursue football seriously.
I admired the likes of Messi and Ronaldo as most of us did, but I also really enjoyed watching players like David Silva and Mesut Ozil. They made the game look so easy and were generational talents in their positions.
My journey into the academy system began at the age of seven. Fortunately, my primary school had a strong connection with AFC Wimbledon so I was training there for a little bit and I played a couple of matches for them. After a brief stint with Wimbledon I went to Fulham and then Chelsea for a very short time – they were both conveniently really close to my house.
Just a year later, when I was eight, Arsenal were interested in me and I knew once they wanted to sign me, I wanted to join, and my parents believed it would be the best club for me. Being a lifelong Arsenal fan, the opportunity to play for the club I support is a dream come true.
The most memorable aspect of my time at Hale End would be the tours we went on. Among them, the tour to Singapore during my time with the under-15s stands out as a particular highlight. The experience of travelling with my teammates, playing abroad and exploring the different football cultures was really enjoyable. Flying out with your mates and playing football in a foreign country is amazing.
Getting that professional contract was a massive moment for me – it’s the dream for every academy player. I went into the meeting with confidence, but let’s be real, there’s always a tiny bit of doubt until it’s official. I’d been putting in the work on the pitch in the seasons leading up to it, so when they finally told me, it was a mix of relief, excitement and just pure joy for the road ahead.
"The opportunity to play for the club I support is a dream come true"
Having my younger brother Will on board at the club is really cool. Since he kicked off his scholarship at London Colney this season, we’ve ended up spending loads more time together in the same building every day. I try to encourage him as much as I can, especially because coming to London Colney in your first year can be a bit overwhelming. But, honestly, I don’t stress too much about him – he’s a top talent and a cracking footballer.
Being on the bench against Brentford in the Carabao Cup was a great experience. Sure, it would’ve been even sweeter if I’d got on the pitch but, overall, it was a stellar day and a memorable experience to be a part of. From travelling with the team to stepping onto the pitch, taking part in the warm-up and soaking in the vibes in the dressing room – it gave me a first-hand look at why these guys are top-notch. It’s a major step up!
Before the game, Mikel had a chat with me, Reuell, Amario and Charles. He kicked it off by reminding us that we earned our spots through hard work and were here for a good reason. We were told to be ready, as we could be called upon at any moment. Even though I didn’t get my chance, watching Charles make his debut as a fellow academy player was a joy to see and we were all hyped for him.
This season, I had a standout moment by clinching the winning penalty in the EFL Trophy game against Swindon Town. Here’s the twist – the day before, in training, I actually missed a penalty. The game wrapped up at 2-2, straight to penalties. In the huddle, Mehmet came up to me and said he wanted me to take one and there was no way was I passing up that opportunity. It was great to see Mehmet showing faith in me, despite my miss in training the day before.
"Mikel reminded us that we earned our spots through hard work and were here for a good reason"
The penalty I was about to take was a big one too – it was to secure the win and bag us the bonus point. Sure, there were some nerves, but I approached the spot with confidence, stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way – job done!
As for pre-game rituals, I’m not big on superstitions. But when it comes to the warm-up, I always make sure to never end on a miss. Whether it’s a shooting drill or a passing session, I’ve got to finish with a goal or a perfect pass. It’s all about ending the warm-up on a high note – good pass, good shot – and then I’m ready to roll.
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