Cohen Bramall: My eyes lit up when I trained with Arsenal stars, I was gobsmacked

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James Benge10 January 2017

New Arsenal signing Cohen Bramall has revealed he was “gobsmacked” when he first travelled to train with his new team-mates.

Arsene Wenger confirmed earlier this week that the 20-year-old full-back had completed a dream £40,000 from non-league Hednesford Town, who play in the eighth tier of English football, to Arsenal in what is likely to be his only piece of business of the January transfer window.

Bramall trained with Arsenal’s first-team over Christmas and evidently impressed his new manager, who has likened him to Ashley Cole and praised his physical attributes.

For former athlete Bramall, who had only committed to a career in football last summer, his move to the top flight is all too much to take in.

“I drove in there and then I saw Arsenal Football Club, I was absolutely gobsmacked,” Bramall told Sky Sports. “It was like a dream. It was so weird.

“I was with the first team on the Thursday and the Friday. My eyes just lit up straight away. I had to do my job. I just played to the best of my ability. Used my speed a lot overlapping from left-back and tried to get my body out there in front of Wenger.

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“He came up to me after the session and it was literally a ‘hi, nice to meet you’. And he said ‘I like how you play’. Just them words, you don’t get that a lot do you. It’s amazing.”

“I’m speechless. I’ve just been on the phone to my sister and she can’t believe what’s happened.”

The young left-back is expected to start his Arsenal career in the Under-23s but will take heart from Wenger’s support, spurred on by the recommendation of Arsenal scout Brian McDermott.

Arsenal have committed to improving their scouting of the English lower leagues after noting the remarkable leaps made by the likes of Jamie Vardy and Chris Smalling, both of whom they have tried to sign in recent years.

Bramall hailed the work McDermott had done to bring him to Arsenal and it appears the youngster is already planning for his future at London Colney.

“Brian McDermott… he’s done class. He’s given me the opportunity. I’m so grateful for it.

“I’ve already moved out [of home]! It’s going to be a big task but I think I can do it. Over the next six months I’m going to work physically and mentally and be ready for pre-season and hopefully break into the first team.”

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