Our Young Gun series gets to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Cairo Antoine spoke to us recently about her early leap up to under-21s football and why she decided Arsenal was the right place for her.
Football has always been a big thing in my family. My dad played for Leyton Orient and Chelsea back in the day and I grew up watching my cousins play academy and grassroots football.
I'd always be the only girl joining in, but that never phased me. Even when I was knocked down, I just brushed myself off.
That being said, I started playing football quite late. When I was 11 I had to choose between dance and football, and that's when I fell in love with football. I still like to dance in my spare time, but I can't dedicate the same amount of time to it as I did before.
During my time in academy football, I've worked my way up the year groups. I played with the under-21s when I was 16, which was a big jump. All the players and staff were so welcoming, but it's a learning curve playing with people older than you.
I started exploring new teams last summer and, when the decision came down to between Chelsea and Arsenal, there was only one choice. I support Arsenal so that always helps!
"I've seen our academy players work their way up to gain first-team experience and that's inspiring"
On the pitch, I'm quite a direct and hungry player. Even though I'm on the wing, I'm not afraid to defend and get stuck into tackles. In my first season here I'm working on my communication and being more confident with the ball.
I always try to make an impact wherever I can, and I loved scoring on my Arsenal and England debuts.
When I watch how well our first team plays and communicates with each other, I want to mirror that in my game. Olivia Smith in particular is an inspiration for me. I want to stand out more in games, because after most Arsenal games her name gets mentioned.
Playing with England alongside academy football gives me a different perspective as I develop. I've been to four England camps now and, when you're there, you play with the best and against the best.
Our opponents bring completely new challenges. For instance, our match against Spain was the biggest test of my football career so far. Even though I'm playing football with girls I don't see every day, I love how easily we all work together.
When we head off to big tournaments like the Euros and World Cup, I want us to be successful as a team, and I want to make my mark as an individual.
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