PLAYERS TO WATCH
ARSENAL FC
THEO WALCOTT Forward
Soccer fact(s): Earned the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2006 at the age of 17 for his performance with Arsenal and the English national team.
Fun fact(s): Nike signed Walcott to a sponsorship deal at 14 years old. His family made a cameo appearance in the “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” movie. Walcott has published four books.
JACK WILSHERE Midfielder
Soccer fact(s): Scored the BBC Goal of the Season in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns. Received Arsenal Player of the Season award for the 2010-2011 season.
Fun fact(s): Appeared on the U.K. and Ireland cover of the FIFA 12 video game alongside Wayne Rooney.
PER MERTESACKER Center back
Soccer fact(s): Was a member of the German national team that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Fun fact(s): Mertesacker is married to Ulrike Stange, a German international handballer. (Not playing due to injury.)
GABRIEL Center back
Soccer fact(s): Gabriel was named Best Central Defender of the Campeonato Baiano, the football league in Brazil, as a member of the club Vitoria. (Not playing due to injury.)
ALEX IWOBI Forward
Soccer fact(s): Iwobi scored two goals in his first two Premier League starts. Fun fact(s): He joined Arsenal while still in elementary school.