Arsenal stars inspire UAE youth in Dubai meet and greet

Being 7,051 kilometres away from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, it’s rare to imagine getting personal advice from one of the Gunners’ stars.

But the UAE, a land of opportunities, made the improbable possible this week.

A group of lucky youngsters had the unique chance to meet three Arsenal first-team players - William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Ethan Nwaneri - at a special event hosted by TCL, Arsenal’s Official Regional Consumer Electronics Partner for the UK, Middle East, and Africa.

The gathering included a Q&A session for young fans, members of the Arsenal UAE supporters’ group, and invited guests, with Gulf News in attendance.

During the session, 14-year-old Jamie asked for advice on standing out at an upcoming football tournament in Las Vegas. Saliba and Nwaneri quickly deferred to Zinchenko, who offered heartfelt guidance:

“I wish you all the best, just be yourself,” the Ukrainian left-back encouraged.

“I always believe if you really sacrifice some things for something that you really want to achieve, you always must give your maximum. At the end of the day, if you are not going to achieve it, then you will have another opportunity – that is why football is the best sport in the world. Don’t ever give up; there will always be another one. Just go for it.”

Later, 11-year-old Zara, part of the UAE Women’s team setup, sought advice for young girls aspiring to go professional. Saliba responded warmly:

“You’ve got plenty of time, but you just have to enjoy football at this age. Enjoy school and work hard as you have time. You can do whatever you want if you believe and work hard.”

A surprise moment followed when Zara revealed she had once been coached by Nwaneri’s father, Obi, while living in London. Nwaneri eagerly asked if his father had been a good coach, and Zara’s emphatic “Yes, he was,” brought smiles all around.

The Gunners have now wrapped up their six-day warm-weather training camp in Dubai, hoping it will replicate the momentum gained during their 2024 visit.

Last season, Arsenal lost just one of their final 18 league games, narrowly missing out on the title to Manchester City on the final day of the season.

This campaign, Mikel Arteta’s side trails leaders Liverpool by six points, with Arne Slot’s men holding a game in hand.