Dubai:  He loves coaching youngsters as much as he loves teaching them the true way to play the "beautiful game". We are not talking about Arsene Wenger here but a significant member of the Arsenal family none the less - Gareth Hamilton, the head coach at Arsenal Soccer Schools Dubai.

Previously employed with the club's youth set-up in the UK, a conversation with academy director and Gunners legend Liam Brady was all it took to convince Hamilton his future lay in the UAE.

"I'd always thought it was a fantastic place to be in," says Hamilton. "What attracted me to it was the fact that there's an outstanding facility at The Sevens. We'd also be working with Emirates, and I had heard this was an area rich in football talent that as Arsenal we could come in and try and improve."

At the age of 33, Hamilton already possesses 13 years of experience as a youth coach. His fascination for coaching grew after heading to the United States on a football scholarship with a university in North Carolina.

Following a two-year spell abroad, he returned to the University of Brighton where he secured his qualification in physical education while simultaneously acquiring the necessary coaching licences through the English Football Association. It was not long before he found himself at the Arsenal Soccer School in London, doing what he enjoyed the most.

"I'm a youth coach. If you give me the option, every day, every time, I'll choose kids," he says emphatically. "There's less problems with kids. They are here for the fun but are willing to listen and learn. Working with adults, sometimes they think they know more than the coach so it can become a frustrating time."

It's just over a year since Hamilton set foot in the Emirates and he remains convinced it was the right move. "I've learnt so much this year about the different nations, religions, culture… it's been a really mind-blowing experience," he says. "I feel like what I've learnt this year, it would have taken me 10 years to learn staying in the same place."

You almost get the feeling that as long as Hamilton is in charge of shaping footballing talent within the UAE, Wenger will be breathing easy.