_**Our Young Gun series gets to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.**_
_Patrick Stachow spoke to us recently about moving from striker to defender and signing his scholarship on a particularly special birthday._
I started playing football when I was about six. No one in my family had really played the game before, but as soon as I started I just loved playing.
The first team I played for was a local side in St Albans called Colney Colts. After that I played for two other clubs, Lambeth Tigers and Enfield Town, before eventually getting scouted by Arsenal.
When I was younger I actually played as a striker and left winger. It wasn't until I signed for Arsenal that they decided to move me into centre back, and since then I've really enjoyed playing there.
My trial at Arsenal was actually meant to happen a year earlier, but because of complications with COVID I wasn't able to do it at the time. Instead, I stayed with their development squad and after that I was given an eight-week trial. After one of the training sessions, which actually happened to be on my birthday, they told me they wanted to sign me. I was super excited.
> "Signing my scholarship was a very proud moment for me. I worked extremely hard to get it."
I was only at Hale End for a couple of seasons because I joined at the under-14s level, but during that time we had some great achievements. One highlight was winning the adidas Flamengo Cup in Brazil which was a fantastic experience. Another was winning the Premier League Cup when we beat Chelsea.
Signing my scholarship was a very proud moment for me. I worked extremely hard to get it, and it's something every young academy player aims for. At the same time, I know it's only the first step. The next goal is to keep progressing and work towards earning a professional contract.
As a player I see myself as a leader. I believe I have the mentality needed to succeed and keep improving. Playing for the under-18s is a step up from under-16s level because the game is so much quicker, so I've had to adapt to the speed and intensity.
Training with the first team takes things to another level and I've had the opportunity to do that a couple of times. The first time I trained with them I was excited but also nervous. Each time you go in, you get more used to it; the pace is incredibly quick.
Players who really stand out in training are Martinelli and Lewis-Skelly. Their work ethic is unbelievable, and they give 100 per cent to everything they do. Gabriel Jesus is also excellent. His technical ability is amazing but overall they are all top professionals.
I also represent Poland at an international level, which is a huge honour for me and something my family are very proud of. Both of my parents are Polish, and I can speak the language to a certain level as well.
I currently play for the Poland under-17s team. I know Arsenal have had Polish players in the past, so hopefully I can add to that that (legacy) in the future.
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