I spent 15 years as an Arsenal player without making senior debut - this is what I think of Mikel Arteta

Former Arsenal academy player Matt Smith has described his journey of learning from Mikel Arteta and playing with Bukayo Saka.

Smith, who joined theArsenal academy at the age of seven and had the chance to impress Arteta during Project Restart, failed to make a first-team appearance for the club but was named in the matchday squad over ten times.

Opening up on his time with the Gunners, which came to an end last summer when he signed for Wigan Athletic, the 23-year-old has discussed the unique methods used byArteta to inspire the squad.

«We had meetings at the hotel before the match and there would always be a game or something silly to get everyone switched on and working together as a team,» explained the midfielder. Some involved tennis balls and other times there were quizzes, which would be about the tactical information on the opposition we’d been learning all week.

“You had to get into groups and play things like Pictionary. It was an ‘are you ready for the game?’ type of thing but it was mad because, at times, it was only two hours before kick-off!”

UnlikeBukayo Saka, who he knew well from their time in the academy, Smith never had that special feeling of stepping over the white line in the famous red and white of his boyhood club. But he understandably looks back fondly on his time at Arsenal — including that surreal day of being at Wembley for the club's 2020 FA Cup win — and cannot speak highly enough of the Gunners' boss.

Referee decision explained following Arsenal complaints over Darwin Nunez Liverpool winner

Arsenal striker following Rasmus Hojlund pathway in a 'wonderful shop window' amid Gunners hope

«The FA Cup final is my best memory,» Smith told the Athletic. «It was different because there were no fans