Arsenal starlet Emmanuel Frimpong has made it clear that he is keeping his feet on the ground despite the hype surrounding him following an excellent pre-season at the club.
His reward for the hard work in the Gunners’ Austrian training camp was a starting spot against AC Milan, and speaking exclusively to the Islington Gazette the tough tackling midfielder says it was an honour to take the field against household names like Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso.
“To be honest I was nervous before the game but once the game started I was just happy to be out on the pitch and then you just get on with it like any other game.
I am just happy the boss has given me the chance to play, to put an 18-year-old on the pitch for a team like Arsenal against Milan and against players like Seedorf and Gattuso. To be in the midfield against them was a great test for me and Jack.”
He received rave reviews for his performances against both Milan and Celtic as Arsenal won the Emirates Cup at the weekend, but Frimpong knows there is plenty of competition ahead of him at the club.
“Players like Song and Denilson will come back in and at the end of the day and they are better players than me at the moment,” he said with refreshing honesty. “I know that, but whatever opportunities I get I will try and take them.
Training with them every day, it can be hard for young players to come in but I have learned a lot and I think it is making me stronger.”
Despite his recent successes, Frimpong hasn’t forgotten the people who helped get him this far. Originally born in Kumasi in Ghana, the teenager arrived in North London as a nine year old and quickly developed a passion for football. He was spotted by Broadwater Farm FC, and their coach Clasford Stirling, a well known name in youth football around that area. Stirling soon saw the talent and set up a trial at Arsenal for Frimpong, and the youngster hasn’t looked back since.
“Clasford has done so much for the people in Tottenham. A lot of the kids would be on the street doing bad things if it wasn’t for him.
When I first started training we had to pay to train and I didn’t have any money but he let me train. I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for him. I know that and I will always be thankful to him for that.”
Looking to the future, Frimpong is set to discover whether or not Wenger will include him in his plans for this season or whether a temporary move away from the club will be the next step, with several interested clubs in the frame.
“There are rumours I might be going on loan, maybe Southampton or Charlton or somewhere like that.”
But I am going to meet with the boss next week and talk about what is best. It helps you and when you play in front of thousands of people every week you get more and more used to it. So I will sit with the boss next week and see what he says.”
