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Arsenal Academy Graduate Joins Norwich Citing Youth Opportunities

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Norwich City have announced the signing of 17 year old attacking midfielder, Josh Martin.

Now, the Canaries regularly sign young prospects from all sorts of clubs but what caught my eye with this one were the player’s comments about the club giving youth a chance.

Martin told Canaries.co.uk: “I’m really happy, it’s a very big opportunity for me. I’m delighted to be here, and it’s the best move I could have had. I had been at Arsenal since I was eight, so since I was very young.

“I came here because they (City) are giving young players opportunities, and they are a team on the up so I think that’s the best opportunity you can get.”

Josh successfully completed a trial, playing in the U18s Premier League games against Fulham and Brighton last month and it seems that he feels that things have clicked nicely into place.

“The environment is really good here,” he continued. “I get along with my team-mates really well, there’s a lot of chemistry in the team and I think we can play well together.

“Colney is really nice and the new building is going to be built as well, so I can’t wait to see that. At the moment I’m just getting used to things.”

“I’m a left winger or an attacking midfielder, I like to run at players and get shots off. I try to emulate (Cristiano) Ronaldo, and I can bring goals and assists to the team.

“Work rate, creativity and a better end product in the final third is what I want to bring to the team.

“My aims for the rest of the season are to help the under-18s to climb up in the table in the remaining games that I have, and play as many games as I can with the under-23s.”

The fact that Daniel Farke is prepared to play young players if they are good enough and Martin’s comments show that the club’s youth policy this season has not gone unnoticed.

It’s hardly a surprise though with Max Aarons and Ben Godfrey both having been linked with multi-million pound moves to big Premier League clubs by the national media.

Another thing that Josh said also stuck with me, “they are a team on the up.”

OTBC

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Editor - a forty something Canary, who has been following Norwich for 30 odd years. Family man with wife, kids, dog and a love of sport. Fan of Boxing, Vale 46, F1 and Rock.

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