_Our Young Gun series gets to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at the Sobha Realty Training Centre._
_Brando Bailey-Joseph spoke to us recently about his Arsenal journey so far after joining the club when he was just six years old._
I grew up in Enfield, around Bush Hill Park, and started playing football with my dad. He used to play when he was younger, so he was the one who introduced me to the the game. From the moment I started, I loved it.
Growing up, I've always supported Arsenal. One player I really looked up to was Alexis Sanchez. The way he played, his energy, his goals, his clutch moments when he'd score late winners or step up in big games really inspired me. He was a great player for the club.
My family background is Jamaican and St Lucian; I've been lucky enough to visit both countries and they're absolutely beautiful. The people, the culture, and of course, the weather are amazing. I'd definitely encourage anyone to visit if they get the chance.
I was scouted quite young, during a local tournament while playing for Winchmore Hill. I've always been an attacking player who loves scoring goals and taking players on, and that side of my game stood out.
I joined Arsenal at six years old, so I've been at the club a long time now! Some of my best memories from my Hale End days include winning the Liam Brady Cup, the Nationals and the adidas Flamengo Cup in Brazil; that Brazil trip was an amazing experience, playing there was special.
This year, I've moved on to Sobha as a first-year scholar, which has been a long time coming. I found out I'd be getting my scholarship back in the under-14s season when my parents were called in for a meeting. I was over the moon when I heard the news, but even then, I've always made sure to stay grounded.
> "Seeing players like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly come through shows me there's a clear pathway for young players."
Playing under-18s football this season has been great; one of the standout moments was playing in the FA Youth Cup against Manchester United at the Emirates. Playing at the Emirates was a dream come true. It' such a special stadium, and even though we lost, that experience gave me even more motivation to keep pushing.
Since moving to Sobha, I've had the chance to train with the first team once, which was a brilliant experience. It really showed me the level required to play in the Premier League and gave me the chance to learn from world-class players up close.
I was nervous at first, but once you get on the pitch and start playing, you settle in and just enjoy it.
Signing my first professional contract was a huge moment for me and my family. It's something I've always been working towards for a long time. Seeing players like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly come through shows that there's a clear pathway for young players at Arsenal if you perform well.
I'd describe myself as a quick, direct winger who loves to take players on and excite fans. My goals for the rest of the season are to keep playing well, continue developing, and play across as many age groups as possible.
Given it's Black History Month, I'd say someone who really inspires me is Raheem Sterling. Looking at his career, from breaking through at a young age with Liverpool to winning titles with Manchester City and playing a major role in England reaching a European final, it's incredible.
When he was at Arsenal, I spoke with him a lot. He was very encouraging and gave me great advice about my game.
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