'I played in Arsenal's academy – one former first-teamer didn't have career I expected'

This versatile forward joined Arsenal at the age of eight, and despite his peers' belief that he would go on to be a world-beater, such expectations were never realised

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was one Arsenal academy graduate who never quite met expectations.

Having become a Gunner aged eight, tall, adaptable forward player Emmanuel-Thomas elevated through the ranks in north London, captaining the club’s under-18 side at just 16 years old. The teenager was initially integrated into the first team in 2008 and made his debut in 2010 in an FA Cup tie against Stoke City.

Praised for his smooth skills and technical ability for such a robust striker, it seemed as though a spot in Arsene Wenger’s starting XI would one day be realised. Yet, such promise would only appear in glimpses over the next few years.

He was sold to Ipswich Town in 2011 and has moved permanently eight times since. In September, he was arrested on suspicion of attempting to smuggle cannabis worth an estimated £600,000 through London Stansted Airport, a charge which he denies. The ex-Gunner will remain remanded in custody until January 6, and a trial for the case has provisionally been set for May 2025.

It's a far cry from what ex-team-mate Henri Lansbury expected him to achieve in the game. “I think Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was the one, for me, who could have gone on and had a huge career,” Lansbury said at the launch of Ladbrokes' Gaffer of all Accas.

“That kid had unbelievable talent. For such a big man, his feet were ridiculous. You just wanted him to push on and really hit the heights that, growing up, we all thought he would do.

“But to be fair, growing up, most of the boys I came through with all went on and had decent careers, and are still working in and around football.”

Enfield-born Lansbury joined the Gunners’ Hale End academy set-up one year after Emmanuel-Thomas and, much like the forward, never truly got a look-in in north London. Leaving the club in 2012, the midfielder enjoyed a lengthy spell at Nottingham Forest, before time with Aston Villa, Bristol City and Luton Town - retiring having achieved promotion with the Hatters last year.

“I just knew it was the right time for me to leave,” Lansbury added, “Because, I'd been out on loan and played men's football for the last four years, and that's what I wanted to keep doing.

“Don't get me wrong, though, it's still a really tough choice to make because you're talking about a place where you've spent pretty much all of your career - a huge part of your life up to that point - but I was in the mindset of wanting to go and make my own path.

“I could have waited. You know, I could have sat around and waited for a few games here and there, like a few of the boys did. But when you look at the boys that did wait, I think it's only really Francis Coquelin who kicked on and ended up at Valencia and Villarreal.

“But a lot of them, like [Emmanuel] Frimpong and Craig Eastmond aren't really doing that. You know, they played a couple of games and got a bit of exposure, but all of a sudden, they're not doing anything.”

Prior to his departure in 2012, Lansbury was temporarily sent out to Scunthorpe United, Watford, Norwich City, and West Ham - and he would recommend that any youngster do the same.

“I went out on loan to get that trust in managers - and that would be my advice to young players now; as soon as you're able to go out and play men's football, go and do it,” he concluded. “You'll get taken on talent, but if you've got that trust as well, then you're guaranteed to go and play.”

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