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Player speaks out after sealing ‘dream’ Arsenal move

By mac14 on January 6, 2017

Cohen Bramall has been speaking out for the first time since sealing a dream move to Arsenal from non-league side Hednesford Town.

The 20-year-old had been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates in recent months and Arsene Wenger confirmed earlier this week that a deal had been agreed to sign the promising full-back – who he likened to Ashley Cole.

Bramall has now been speaking in an interview with Sky Sports News where he revealed what Wenger said to him after impressing during a two-day trial with the Gunners last month.

The youngster also says he’s still ‘speechless’ after sealing a dream move to the Emirates and recalled being ‘gobsmacked’ when he first drove in to London Colney.

Bramall is quoted by Goal as telling Sky Sports:

“I drove in there and then I saw Arsenal Football Club, I was absolutely gobsmacked. It was like a dream. It was so weird.

“I was with the first team on the Thursday and the Friday. My eyes just lit up straight away. I had to do my job. I just played to the best of my ability. Used my speed a lot overlapping from left-back and tried to get my body out there in front of Wenger. He came up to me after the session and it was literally a ‘hi, nice to meet you’. And he said ‘I like how you play’. Just them words, you don’t get that a lot do you. It’s amazing.

“I’m speechless. I’ve just been on the phone to my sister and she can’t believe what’s happened. Brian McDermott… he’s done class. He’s given me the opportunity. I’m so grateful for it. I’ve already moved out [of his mum’s house]! It’s going to be a big task but I think I can do it. Over the next six months I’m going to work physically and mentally and be ready for pre-season and hopefully break into the first team.”

Bramall was recommended to Wenger by Brian McDermott and the players agent, Dan Chapman, has also revealed how he managed to get the left-back in for a trial the same day following a call with the Arsenal scout.

Chapman is quoted as saying by Goal:

“Brian [McDermott] said to me ‘can we get him after Christmas’? Thinking like an agent I said how about we get him down this afternoon. And Brian said ‘give me two minutes and I’ll come back to you’ and he said ‘if you can get him down this afternoon, I’ve spoken to Arsene Wenger and he’ll look at him over the next two days’. All respect to Arsene Wenger. He was magnificent. He showed how humble he is.

“He didn’t stick him on another pitch with the under-23s. He brought him straight in with the first team. That’s the sort of respect he must have for Brian’s judgement.”

Arsenal have reportedly paid Hednesford Town £40,000 for Bramall’s signature with the defender penning a two-and-a-half year deal.

He seems like a very down to earth young lad and I wish him all the best at Arsenal but it’s going to be a while before he’ll be pushing for the first team as he’s coming from a side playing in the seventh tier of English football so it’s going to be a huge jump in class.