Midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong confessed that he is delighted to have come through a difficult time when he was younger as he praised the Arsenal coaching team for helping him become a part of the senior squad.

Speaking to Arsenal Player, the Ghanaian admitted that it’s not easy to secure a regular place with the Gunners as he showed his gratitude to all the coaches who believed in him even when at the age of fifteen he was doing “so many rubbish” that he shouldn’t have been doing at that age.

Asked about what it means to be competing with Cameroon’s Alex Song for a place in Arsene Wenger’s regular team, the 19-year old spoke about jokes going on in training between the two adding that his objective is indeed to one day take the place of his friend.

Today, the Gunners will be in action against Manchester United at Old Trafford with the 19-year old missing through suspension and incidentally Alex Song also suspended for the game with manager Arsene Wenger having the tough job to pick the midfield with Jack Wilshere also not available.

On securing a regular place, Frimpong said:

It’s very hard to get into the first team, to be a first player at Arsenal, it’s very hard to do. I’ve been dreaming about this from since I first came to the club and I’m just thankful to all the coaches that helped me to get through.

Because when I was about fifteen-sixteen I was doing so many rubbish that probably I shouldn’t have done and they kept giving me the opportunity to improve and change and then they did I. I have to say that I’m happy and thankful to them for giving me that chance.

I probably don’t talk to anyone more than Alex [Song], he’s a great person. Obviously sometimes he gets a bit funny because in training he goes ‘Oh, Frimpong you’ve come to take over my place, you don’t want my kids to eat, how am I going to get money for them?’ and stuff like that, but he’s a great player, I’m just happy to be learning from him.

He’s a funny guy, he’s a great example to me, hopefully I can learn a lot from him and when the time is right, yeah, I will push him out of the team.