Alex Iwobi could not believe his eyes when he saw Hale End’s redevelopment for the first time.
Unveiled at the start of the month, the academy now features a number of full-size pitches, including an exhibition pitch with the same Desso surface and dimensions as Emirates Stadium.
Iwobi graduated from Hale End after joining the club while still in primary school, and believes the new facility will be a big benefit for our next generation of talent.
“I haven’t seen it this year but I saw it last year when they were building, and even then it looked amazing,” he told the Arsenal Weekly podcast.