Arsenal up and coming player Samuel Onyekachukwu was focused on athletics before football took the center-stage in his life. He’s happy for the switch, though, while looking forward to thriving as a centre-back in the Arsenal senior team and more.
“I grew up in Finchley, and initially, it was my older brother who played football. Watching him got me interested, and I decided to get involved too. The first time I actually played football was when I was around eight years old. Before that, I was focused on athletics in school—I’ve always had a good burst of speed. My background is Nigerian, but my grandma is Italian, and my mum can even speak the language.”
Growing up, ‘Onye’ looked up to Dutchman Virgil van Dijk. “As a centre-back, he’s been one of the best defenders in the world for a long time, consistently playing at the highest level. I’ve always admired his dominance in defence, and I aspire to reach that same level of influence on the pitch.”
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Onye started off as an attacker though running through the flanks. “The first team I played for was Whetstone Wanderers, and back then, I actually started out as a winger and occasionally played up top. We participated in a summer tournament where I performed really well, catching the eye of a few scouts. One of them was from Watford, and after speaking to my mum, they offered me a six-week trial. During the trial, things didn’t quite click for me on the wing, so they shifted me to centre-back. That’s when everything fell into place—I thrived in the position and never looked back.
“I joined Watford at the U10 level and stayed there for two seasons. Then, Arsenal made their move. I was playing for my district in a tournament hosted by Arsenal, where my team won the cup, and I had a great tournament. Arsenal noticed, and they offered me the chance to join their U12s. A lot of the guys who were there when I first joined, like Andre, Sam, Alex, Khari, Ife, and Jack, are still here today. It’s incredible to see us all still pushing each other forward.”
Joining Arsenal came as a pleasant surprise to him.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was over the moon, and my family was incredibly proud. Being part of one of the biggest clubs in the world is an honour. I give all the glory to God for that. One of the highlights of my time at Hale End was the Brazil tour last year with the U17s. I played some of the best football of my life, learned a lot about myself, and experienced Brazil’s beauty firsthand. It was an unforgettable trip.
“Coming up to the scholarship decision time was nerve-wracking, especially because I was injured for a while. It made me doubt whether I’d get the chance. But thankfully, the coaches believed in me, and I was offered the scholarship. I’ve loved every minute of it since.
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“Moving to the Sobha Realty Training Centre has been amazing. It’s a much more professional environment than Hale End, and it’s humbling to see how the hard work is paying off. I’ve even had the chance to train with the first team, which was an unreal experience. Walking onto the pitch and seeing Saliba, Saka, and Odegaard playing around—my heart was pounding. The tempo was so quick, and you have to think fast to keep up.
“There was this funny moment when I was in the ice bath and Saka walked in. He joked that I needed to get my whole body in, and we ended up doing the ice bath together for about 10 minutes. He told me how he used to be nervous and shy when he first arrived, but he encouraged me to be confident and believe in myself, which meant a lot to me.”
Seeing six academy players feature against Bolton in the Carabao Cup was incredibly inspiring for onyekachukwu.
“Especially Jack Porter, as he’s in the same age group as me. Watching him play was amazing, and we’re all super proud of him. It just shows that if you work hard and keep performing at a high level, there is a pathway to the first team.
“For the rest of the season, my goal is to play as many games as I can and keep improving. God is central to my life—I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without Him. I read my Bible and pray daily, always thanking Him for the opportunities I’ve been given. Before every game, I make sure to pray and meditate on His word.”