Our Young Gun series gets to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.

Maalik Hashi spoke to us recently about his pathway from Chelsea to Arsenal and the impact of the challenges of making the step up to full-time football.

I grew up in west London, around Uxbridge. My journey into football started when my dad used to take me to all his tournaments when I was really young. Watching him play made me fall in love with the game. 

He never played at a high level, but he often played in five-a-side tournaments and friendly matches with his friends. I'd often join in, and that's what really sparked my passion for football. 

My family background is Somali and British. The Somali side is from my dad, and it's something I'm really proud of. 

When I was younger, the player I looked up to most was Lionel Messi because he's simply brilliant. As I've grown older, my inspirations have shifted a bit. Now I look up to players like Pedri, Jamal Musiala and Cole Palmer - creative, attacking midfielders who play with flair and intelligence.

The first team...