'Hinshelwood's a role model for the academy'

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Midfielder Joe Knight says Jack Hinshelwood's progress is encouraging for other young players.

Charlie Hanson

2024-09-13T09:00+01:00

Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion 31AUG24 PH.041

Jack Hinshelwood's progress to the first team gives other academy players hope that they'll get their chance, according to Joe Knight.

The youngster was speaking ahead of Friday night's Premier League Cup game against Reading at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre, which will be streamed live on the club's YouTube channel.

“Jack and I have played here since we were under-12s and all the way up. He was with the under-21s not long ago so you can see the things he's doing over there and try to replicate it," Joe said.

“He's probably done it the best way. Sometimes people like to go around shouting about how well they're doing. But even when he was with the first team and doing really well, he still kept his head down and wasn't satisfied with what he already had – he just wanted to keep going. I think it's a great example for all of us.

“He makes the jump to the first team feel more achievable. I guess when you don't really see people like him in that environment it could seem like making the jump is a long, long way away.

“But him doing as well as he is, it makes it seem a lot closer than it ever felt before. It feels like if you string a few good sessions together it can make a big difference.”

The midfielder also reflected on the opportunity to train with Lewis Dunk and what the club captain wanted to see more of from the men's under-21s.

"He trained with us last week [during the international break] and he mentioned about the noise.

“He said there's a lack of noise when we train, whereas when the first team train it's really loud. He made the point that just something as small as that can make a big, big difference.”

The 18-year-old has had the opportunity to train with the first team too and got to see first hand how a Premier League team communicates.

“It's about giving lots of encouragement and it helps challenge how you train and think of ways to improve, not just with the ball.

“When you train with the first team you’ve got to make sure that when you return to the under-21s that you've learned something and help the group improve.”