Young Gun: Will Sweet

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

Will Sweet spoke to us recently, and here's what he had to say about wearing the captain's armband, a UEFA Youth League debut and more

It’s been a season of ups and downs, with plenty of highs and lows, but I’ve learned a great deal along the way. Taking on the role of captain this season has been a great experience. It’s helped me grow both as a person and as a leader, and taught me how to bring the best out of my team-mates. I’ve focused on understanding what motivates each player and how to encourage them individually before every game. My aim is to become a leader who everyone can connect with and respect. 

The captaincy was announced at the start of the season when Jack Wilshere and Adam Birchall selected captains for the under-17s and under-18s. Jack told me just before our first game. I was a bit surprised but also really excited to take on the responsibility. Since then I’ve made it a priority to understand how each player responds to encouragement so I can talk to them in the way that suits them best. 

This season Jack has moved on and Birch has stepped in, but the transition has been seamless. Most of us have worked with Birch in the academy, so there’s a strong rapport and familiarity. Jack and Birch have similar coaching styles. When Jack first arrived he learned from Birch, and Birch, in turn, took notes from Jack.

One of the highlights of the season for me has been making my debut in the UEFA Youth League. It’s been a fantastic experience, although we were disappointed not to progress past the group stage. Still, we’ve grown as a team and will carry those lessons into next season. The key is maintaining our performance over the full 90 minutes. We had some unlucky moments, but we’ll be aiming to improve next year. 

Leading the team in the FA Youth Cup away at Hertford Town was a privilege. It was a tough fixture, with their crowd fully behind them. Many of our players hadn’t experienced a crowd of that size before, but we were excited about the challenge. 

There was a lot of buzz around the match, with articles in the papers framing it as a potential upset. We focused on staying composed and did our best to block out the noise. Even when it went to 1-1, we responded well and held firm each time they closed the gap. Everyone stuck to their roles, and our midfielders covered an incredible 13-14km during the game. We fought hard, stayed united, and saw it through.

"We want to leave a legacy and be remembered as a special group"

The FA Youth Cup means a lot to us. As under-18s players, it’s the competition we all dream of winning. We want to leave a legacy and be remembered as a special group. For now, though, it’s about taking it one game at a time, and we’re looking forward to facing QPR in the next round. 

This season I’ve also made my under-21s debut, which was a proud moment for me. There’s quite a step up between under-18s and under-21s football, but the coaches, Mehmet Ali and Max Porter, prepared me well for the match against Blackburn. I partnered with Zane Monlouis in defence and his communication throughout the game was invaluable, as was Elian’s support from left back. I felt I played well and even managed to grab an assist, which was a great bonus. 

Training with the first team is another fantastic experience. They’re among the best in the country, fighting to win the league, so the standard is incredibly high. A few months ago we worked on set pieces, and I managed to score a header from a near-post flick-on. Considering the first team’s reputation for set pieces, it was a special moment for me.

My focus this season is to improve my communication skills and continue developing as a leader. I feel I’m making progress week by week. 

Just before Christmas we visited The Arsenal Hub for a community event, which was a brilliant experience. It’s easy to overlook the great work happening there week in, week out. The younger participants were so excited to see us, and we all threw ourselves into the activities. My favourite part was playing football with the kids – about 50 of them against us academy players! It was such fun, and we just about won in a penalty shootout. I can’t wait to go back.

Looking ahead, my goal for 2025 is to sign my first professional contract. I’ve been at Arsenal practically my entire life, having joined at five years old. Making my way through Hale End and now through Shobha, it would truly be a dream come true. My older brother James, who’s now at St Albans City FC, has done it, so it would be fantastic to follow in his footsteps.