_Our Young Gun series gets to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at the Sobha Realty Training Centre._
_Remy Mitchell spoke to us recently about what he's learned away from Arsenal, the experience of playing in Baller League and the experience of training with David Raya_.
I grew up in Hackney and spent most of my childhood playing football with my cousins at school. After school we would head over to Highbury Fields, right next to the Emirates, where we were part of a local club.
During half terms, my dad would sign me up for goalkeeper camps. When I was eight, a coach there recommended me to an Arsenal goalkeeping coach at Hale End, and that led to a month-long trial. That is really where my journey began.
I've always been a goalkeeper. When I was young, I went into goal simply because no one else wanted to, and I ended up loving it.
My dad has been an Arsenal season-ticket holder for years, so he used to take me to matches when I was younger. Now I've got my own season ticket too.
Earning a scholarship was one of my proudest moments. It's something you work towards from a young age, and everyone dreams of moving from Hale End to the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
My scholarship years were challenging, especially with covid disrupting things, but my second year was much better. I had a strong run of games, and in my final match I captained the team in a north London derby. We won 5-0 and I saved a penalty; that was a huge moment for me.
Leaving Arsenal was extremely tough. It was my first real experience of rejection. I'd been at Arsenal my whole life, and at 18 it's a lot to take in, especially being the only player in my group not offered a deal.
> Training with the first team and being around some of the best players in the world is unbelievable!
I joined the Baller League with TBJZL's team. It was the biggest crowd I'd ever played in front of, with around 100,000 watching online and about 5,000 in the arena, and it was also on Sky Sports. It was unreal.
Off the pitch, I'm in my second year of a Business and Football Management degree through the PFA. It fits well around training because lectures are in the evenings, and I'm usually home from training by three.
I rejoined Arsenal this season. Coming back to the club I support has been an incredible feeling. Training with the first team and being around some of the best players in the world is unbelievable. Watching David Raya up close, you see exactly why he is so good.
The standards he sets every day are top-level, and he is pushed by Inaki, the first-team goalkeeping coach, to be at his best.
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