Jamie O’Hara has been reflecting on his time in Arsenal’s academy while speaking on talkSPORT.
The Arsenal-disliking pundit was a member of Hale End between the years of 1998 and 2003 before he was released, leading him to sign for Tottenham.
Still very much a part of the game, O’Hara can’t let his ties to Arsenal go, as he continuously talks about the Gunners.
O’Hara has called Arsenal the biggest disappointment in the Premier League while expressing some strong opinions about Mikel Arteta, and at long last, he was called out.
Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ImagesJamie O’Hara reflects on his time in Arsenal’s academy
On talkSPORT, co-host Dean Saunders asked O’Hara the question that so many wish to understand: why does the pundit give Arsenal so much stick, given that he’s a former player?
“I was in the academy. It was a great academy. It was the best academy,” O’Hara said to Saunders, before he was challenged.
“I can’t believe you give them that much stick when they actually taught you all you know,” Saunders responded.
O’Hara then hit back by claiming that Saunders’ statement wasn’t entirely true, stating that Arsenal’s academy didn’t actually teach him what he knows about the game today.
“That’s not true. I taught myself what I know because I was talented,” he said.
It was quite the claim from O’Hara, who was eager to let it be known that Arsenal didn’t play a considerable part in his career, despite being guided by the Gunners for five years.
Mikel Arteta just put Hale End under the spotlight
O’Hara might not be able to sleep over Arsenal’s proposed success this season, but one thing that is for sure is that the Gunners won’t be losing sleep over the 39-year-old’s comments.
Things couldn’t be better at Hale End right now, as Arteta continues to celebrate the talent that the academy is churning out.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
During Arsenal’s Carabao Cup win over Brighton, the Arsenal manager showcased the best of Hale End past and present, with six representatives in the squad on the night.
Two academy products scored, as Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri made the scoresheet, while Myles Lewis-Skelly, Eberechi Eze, Andre Harriman-Annous and Max Dowman played a part.
It’s a particularly good time to be a part of Arsenal’s academy, with those at Hale End able to see what hard work and dedication can result in through the array of stars currently utilised by Arteta.