COHEN BRAMALL TO ACTUALLY GET A GAME FOR ARSENAL

His January move to the Emirates made headlines – now he needs to play

This time last year you were working in a car factory and playing in the Northern Premier League. Now you are playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe. How on earth did that all happen? I was working on the production line at Bentley as well as playing for Hednesford Town, training twice a week and playing a match on a Saturday. The hours were long and it was tiring, but I was earning good money and enjoying myself. But then I got made redundant by Bentley and decided to focus on football. I’d already had a trial with Crystal Palace and I enjoyed the experience of playing with Wilfried Zaha and Yohan Cabaye, but everyone was much better than me technically. The same week I got made redundant I had a trial with Sheffield Wednesday and got to play against Birmingham for the under-23s. I had one of my best ever games. The next day I was on my way up to Shrewsbury Town for another trial when I got a call from my agent saying that [Arsenal’s scout] Brian Mcdermott had watched the Birmingham match and Arsenal were interested in signing me. I just couldn’t believe it. The next morning I was training with their first team.

And what was that experience like? I wasn’t expecting it. I got chucked into a 5v5 session with some of the best players in the world, like Mesut Özil, Alexis Sanchez and Petr Cech. It was so crazy. The tempo and the movement was outstanding – it was such an incredible moment for me.

How hard was it adapting to the step up in class from non-league? A lot of Arsenal’s players have been brought up on some proper technical training sessions, whereas I’d grown up kicking a ball against a fence with my mates. The first few weeks were hard and mentally tough. I’d never seen a mannequin before in my life and then I was training with them, plus cones and all sorts of equipment. But I’ve got the gist of it now and the players have all been so welcoming.

What has been the best moment? So far, making my first appearance for the club in an under-23 match against Southampton. I didn’t do a lot, but it was amazing just to be able to put on the Arsenal shirt and represent one of the biggest football clubs in the world.

Did Jamie Vardy’s story give you hope that you could still make it? I had never given up the dream. I have always been confident I’d get there but I just did not expect to be at Arsenal so quickly. Players like Vardy and Charlie Austin are an inspiration to everyone – but now I want to match or better what they achieved so I can be an inspiration for other non-league footballers as well.

Cohen Bramall wears the PUMA ONE, the boot for every ONE and every player