Emmanuel Yaw Frimpong

Emmanuel Yaw Frimpong (born 10 January 1992) is a Ghanaian-born footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arsenal. Frimpong has represented England at youth level.

Early life

Frimpong was born in Accra, Ghana but moved to Tottenham at a young age where he was originally discovered by Arsenal. He attended Gladesmore Community School in Tottenham until he was 14, when he left to focus on playing football full-time at Arsenal's youth academy.

Club career

Frimpong signed for Arsenal aged nine. He began his Arsenal career in their youth academy and he scored against Coventry City and Milton Keynes amongst others. Arsenal added him to their reserve team in 2008. He made his début for the reserves on 5 October 2009 against Chelsea. Frimpong as well as fellow academy member Jay Emmanuel-Thomas were on the bench for the match against Sheffield United.

On 22 May 2009, Frimpong was injured on the quarter hour mark of the FA Youth Cup Final against Liverpool and was substituted.

He featured heavily in Arsenal's pre-season in Austria and received praise from Arsene Wenger for his performances in the 2010 Emirates Cup. "I believe Frimpong has done really well as well. He is a bit less of a dribbler but he is a fighter and he is a winner."

On 19 August 2010, Frimpong injured an anterior cruciate ligament in training and was out injured for nine months.

After returning from the injury, on 17 June 2011, Frimpong claimed he was in talks with Championship club Cardiff City and League One side Charlton Athletic over a possible loan deal, which could give him regular football.

2011–12 season

On 13 July 2011 Frimpong came off the bench to play 45 minutes for Arsenal in a friendly against Malaysia XI. Frimpong made his Premier League debut for Arsenal in their match against Newcastle United on 13 August 2011, coming on as a second half substitute for Tomas Rosicky. On 16 August 2011, Frimpong came on as a second-half substitute for Rosicky again in the UEFA Champions League match against Udinese. He made his first start in the Premier League on 20 August 2011 against Liverpool, but ended up being sent off in the 69th minute of the match after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on Lucas Leiva.

International career

Frimpong opted to join England's under-16 team in 2007. In March 2008, Frimpong scored a 71st minute goal for England against Germany's under-16 team in the Montaigu Tournament to give England a 1–0 win.

In 2009, Frimpong switched his allegiance to Ghana. Frimpong said he switched back to Ghana because, "I have always said that, no matter what, I will always play for Ghana because at the end of the day, from what I believe, I am a Ghanaian." In August 2010, Frimpong backtracked and was called-up for the England under-19 squad to face Slovakia the following month, though he was later forced to withdraw from the squad after suffering his anterior cruciate ligament injury.

In February 2011, Frimpong said: "I have always told my family that if Ghana calls me, I will personally ride my own bicycle from England to Ghana [to play for the Black Stars]". In August, Frimpong had planned to spectate a friendly match between Ghana and Nigeria at Vicarage Road in Watford, but the game was postponed due to the 2011 England riots.[21] Later that month, Frimpong received his first call-up for the England under-21 team. On 6 September 2011, it was announced by the Ghanaian FA that Frimpong has pledged his future to Ghana, thus snubbing the chance to represent England.

Style of play

Frimpong is known for his energy in the midfield and has been compared to current Arsenal player Alex Song and various other African midfielders who had lots of pace and stamina. He's also been compared with Michael Essien for his hard work in the defensive midfielder role.