Not every Arsenal fan will know who Matt Smith is.
The Gunners have had many incredible players come through their academy, and some of them have become regulars in the first team.
However, not everyone makes it to the top, even though they show a lot of promise during their teenage years at the club.
Smith is one such player, and he is on his way back to the Emirates with Wigan Athletic to play against Arsenal.
Predict the score of Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic and tell us who will win the Man of the Match award!
Matt Smith won the FA Cup with Arsenal without playing a single senior game
Smith joined Arsenal when he was just eight years old.
The midfielder came through the ranks at the club’s academy and was always viewed as a big talent. In 2019, he even captained the club’s U18s to the Premier League South title.
Smith was often seen in Arsenal’s first-team training sessions as well, even after Mikel Arteta arrived as Arsenal’s manager.
In fact, the Spaniard even named Smith on his bench for the FA Cup final of 2020 against Chelsea at Wembley.
The Arsenal academy graduate was an unused substitute in that game, but he took home an FA Cup winners’ medal.
When asked where that medal is, Smith replied in a press conference: “It’s at my mom and dad’s. I’m hoping to (add to that one day).”
After that final, Smith went out on loan to Swindon Town, Charlton Athletic and Doncaster Rovers before signing for Wigan Athletic on a permanent deal. He didn’t play a single game for Arsenal, despite being named in the matchday squad 14 times.
Now he will make his return to the Emirates Stadium with the Latics to face the Gunners in the competition he won.
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Matt Smith hails Bukayo Saka before Arsenal vs Wigan
Smith left Arsenal for Wigan in 2023 without making a single first-team appearance for the club.
His dream at the Emirates was not fulfilled, but that FA Cup final will forever remain in his memory as one of the highlights of his career.
On the bench next to Smith that day was Bukayo Saka, and the Wigan star has claimed that he always knew that the Arsenal number seven would become a star.
“Yeah, he was a year below me, but obviously, being so good, he always used to play up. I know him quite well.”
When asked if he knew that Saka would become so good, Smith replied: “Yeah! You always knew he had that ability that he could go on and, as he did, break into the first team, and he has never looked back, really.”
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