Joe Willock had to share a bed with his two elder brothers at the family home on the Priory Court estate in northeast London. It meant a room of one’s own was high on his wish-list. But it was in that bedroom that the three brothers — Joe, Chris and Matty — discussed their hopes and dreams of progressing through Arsenal’s youth system and into Arsène Wenger’s first team to play in the biggest stadiums across the world. Back then, in 2004, all three were at the club’s Hale End academy, a five-minute walk from the family home. Over the next 15 years, Matty, now 23, would depart for Manchester United, Chris, 21, would sign for Benfica but Joe remained.

Source: The Times October 09, 2019 23:03 UTC