Our Young Gun series sees us catch up with our Academy players kicking off their careers at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. 

In our latest edition, Charlie Purdy, who joined the club at under-8s level, recounts his long journey through to signing his first-year scholarship in the summer, with challenges, titles and landmark goals along the way. 

I grew up in Essex, around Tiptree, and started off just playing Sunday League football. I went through a few different clubs, including Galleywood, Chelmsford, Maldon and Tiptree, just enjoying playing with my friends. Then I started taking it a bit more seriously once I realised how much I loved football. 

I had trials at both Ipswich and Arsenal, and Ipswich offered me a place first. When Arsenal then offered me an opportunity as well, I obviously chose Arsenal, and I've been here ever since. 

Growing up, I supported Manchester United through my dad and his side of the family, who are from that area. I've always liked smaller, creative midfielders, so Luka Modric was someone I looked up to. Kevin De Bruyne is a bit bigger, but he's definitely another player I've admired because of the different aspects of his game. 

I joined Arsenal at under-8 level, so I've been here for a long time. There have been a lot of memories throughout my Hale End journey. We had some really strong teams. At under-12s, we won the Nationals, then at under-13s we won them again, and we also won the under-14s Nationals. 

We had a bit of a rough patch as a team after that, but then at under-16s we managed to win another major tournament. I think it was the international Premier League tournament, although I can't quite remember the exact name! 

It's been a long journey. I feel like I haven't always been the biggest lad, so I've had to wait each year, keep developing and keep growing. Hale End has been a great place for me to enjoy my football, keep practicing and get better every day. There are actually still a good number of players here from when I first joined. I'd say there are probably four or five of us. It feels like we're all in it together. We really look out for each other and have become really close over the years. 

Getting my scholarship this summer was obviously a massive moment. When you start under-16s, it's always in the back of your mind because you know that in December you'll have that meeting where you find out what's happening. It's the first big meeting that the last-year boys have ever sat in, around a table with a few coaches, so it's quite an important one. Going into November and December, it can be quite a nervy process because you want to keep playing well and performing.

You do get anxious, but as a family we were quite strong and confident about where I stood. There was still always that little feeling that it might not be what you want to hear, but I felt like my teammates and family were all together and supporting each other through it. My mum and dad were there for the meeting, along with Michael Donaldson, who was the under-16s head coach. 

Thankfully, it was all good news. It was a big sigh of relief, really. I felt like all the hard work over the last eight years had paid off. It was a really exciting moment.  

Now I've moved up to Sobha Realty Training Centre, it feels like you're starting from the bottom again. You have to work hard and show people what you're about. At the same time, it's a phenomenal experience to have so many top-class players around you to learn from. 

You see them every day and see how they approach each day, as well as all the small details that help make them the best players in the country. It's the perfect place for me to keep developing. The transition from Hale End to being a full-time player has been tough. You might have a game one night and then you're back in the next morning, so it's relentless.

You have to be really strong-minded. I travel around an hour and 10 minutes each way because I'm still living at home, so it's a tough one getting up every morning. But, if anything, it's made me more resilient and mentally stronger. 

I know I have to be up at a certain time and I have to be there, so it's given me a good routine to follow. I'm normally up around 6.30am most days. It's not easy, but it gives me a routine and has definitely helped me become more resilient.  

I've also had a few opportunities to train with the first team, and you just see how high the quality and standards are. For me, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice have been the most impressive. I don't think you realise how much they do until you're actually in and around them. 

The quality they have and everything about them, they just have a certain aura about themselves. Seeing players like Marli Salmon and Max Dowman, as well as the other young players who have come through Hale End and gone on to play for the first team, is really inspiring. It shows that there is an opportunity there if you're good enough.  

We've grown up around Marli and Max through Hale End, so it's really nice to see them getting that opportunity. It makes you think that you want to be that person too, and it pushes you to work towards it. 

I also scored my first goal for the under-18s against Norwich recently, which was another big moment for me. It was another sigh of relief because I'd started the season with an injury and had been out for a while. 

Over the last few games, I feel like I've taken my chance when I've come into the team, so scoring in our last game before the international break was a good way to go into the break on a positive note. 

My main goal for this season is to earn an early professional contract. I'd also love to play in the UEFA Youth League. That's definitely something that's high on my list, especially the away games. It would be an amazing experience. If I can also get some under-21 minutes, that would be great.