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FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
Sport
Ryan Dabbs

‘Even though it was late in the game, the Arsenal fans started singing my name. It felt like the moment I announced myself as a professional footballer’: Ex-Gunners star recalls scoring first senior goal as a teenager at Highbury

Arsenal David Bentley Gunners Highbury Football Arsene Wenger Blackburn Middlesbrough Oxford United
LONDON - JANUARY 4: David Bentley of Arsenal skips past Bobby Ford of Oxford United during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Oxford United held on January 4, 2003 at Highbury in London, England. Arsenal won the match 2-0. (Photo By Shaun Botterill/Getty Images).

Arsenal have a long history of launching the careers of young players, with Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere and Bukayo Saka having all progressed into the first team as breakout stars.

In January 2004, Gunners fans welcomed what they thought would be another prospect for Arsene Wenger's starting XI at Highbury, during a 4-1 rout of Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round.

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