Arsenal landed a huge prospect when they signed young goalkeeper Tommy Setford from Ajax in the summer.
Setford joined Arsenal from Ajax as an England youth international, and he is serving as the club’s third-choice goalkeeper as well as an academy option.
The 18-year-old picked up an injury at the wrong time, as it meant he missed his chance to make his Arsenal debut in the Carabao Cup, with 16-year-old Jack Porter starting against Bolton instead.
There are high hopes for Setford nevertheless, and with Arsenal drawing Championship side Preston North End in the fourth round, he could still hope to make his debut soon.
The teenager has now revealed which goalkeeper he grew up idolising, and it is a player with whom Arsene Wenger is very familiar.
Arsenal starlet Tommy Setford claims Maarten Stekelenburg is his goalkeeping idol
In an interview printed in the matchday programme ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Bolton, Setford explained how he became a goalkeeper, and why former Dutch International Maarten Stekelenburg was his inspiration.
“I first got into football because of my older brother, Charlie,” he stated.
“He was really into it and, like most younger siblings, I just copied what he was doing.
“That’s how my football journey began. Charlie loved football, especially being a goalkeeper. He was inspired by Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg after that famous save he made against Kaka in the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals.
“Naturally, since my brother wanted to be like Stekelenburg, I wanted to follow in his footsteps too.”
Arsene Wenger tried to sign Maarten Stekelenburg twice
Stekelenburg had an eventful career over the years, featuring for clubs including Ajax, Roma, Fulham and Everton among others, but he could have joined Arsenal on two separate occasions.
After he became a finalist at the 2010 World Cup, Stekelenburg was targeted by Wenger, who saw bids for Mark Schwarzer rejected as he desired a new goalkeeper.
However, Ajax qualified for the Champions League group stage, and Stekelenburg decided to stay put with the Dutch giants.
By 2013, Arsenal were again linked with several goalkeepers amid doubts over a young Wojciech Szczesny, and Stekelenburg, then at Roma, was targeted. However, he ended up moving to Fulham, but Szczesny would go on to win the Golden Glove in that season.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
