If one youngster had a point to prove at the start of the season it was Luke Freeman – the January 2007 signing from Gillingham had only shown flashes of his potential – and still had his doubters. Yet with the campaign drawing to a close, the diminutive marksman has certainly made it a year to remember.
With 11 Academy League goals and a bag full of assists, Luke has played an integral part in Steve Bould’s play off final side. Add to that a sprinkling of England caps and you’ve got the recipe for a promising prospect. Indeed, Freeman has had a marvelous finish to the season – after signing professional forms he was named in the England Under 17 squad for the Under 17 European Championships.
The Three Lions usually have a good crop of talent at such tournaments, and with the games coming so thick and fast, the pressure was on to settle in quickly.
“When you are at your club you see the other players week in, week out, you know what they’re about, but when you come away with England you only really see them three or four times a year. You have to mix with them quickly and get down to playing football.”
Luke wasn’t the only young Gunner at the competition – Jack Wilshere and Benik Afobe were part of the same team, while Oguzhan Özyakup was in action for Final making Holland. Having some of your club colleagues around you was defiantly a boost, according to Freeman himself.
“It is always good to see the Arsenal boys. If you are feeling a bit down you can also go and talk to them.”
“But it’s weird. You see Ozzy week in, week out at the club so it’s weird to play against him rather than with him.”
It’s quite easy to forget the rise that the striker nicknamed ‘Owen’ has had, and the appreciative 17-year-old admits he used to watch on with envy as Reserve team regulars Gavin Hoyte and Rhys Murphy played in the same competition in seasons past.
“I watched them on telly before I went to Arsenal thinking how good it would be to be there.”
“They often speak about it, to say what a good experience it was.”
With an attitude like that, Luke can only progress.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Luke freeman is 17 crikey his he actually like owne. In terms of pace and dribbling past people. I see someone like theo walcott as the new michael owen
There’s a mistake in your first sentence.
Luke was signed in January 2008, not 2007.
He play’s in the role of wayne rooney at man utd; cutting in from the left.
shocking picture.
what’s wrong with his picture?
The sandals? The old man trousers? The cheesy smile? His shirt’s way too big for him? The ‘i’m just hanging out, in front of a bush’ vibe?
As always great J, but I think he came to us in 2008 like a 16 year old boy so now he would have 18 :)
And I/ve a question: Is he going to play up front or on the wing? Where he played recently?
yeah Samuel. he looks like the perv Jay Cartwright on Inbetweeners.
Luke was 15 when he arrived in January 2008 – he was a year above himself in the academy system last year. His birthday is in March so he is only just 17, which is why he has only just signed his first professional contract. I agree that is a terrible picture of him but he does look and play quite like Owen.