The Arsenal Way – sponsors convince Gunners to train Indian kids

Arsenal staff recently held a 2-week coaching program in Calcutta and selected 16 schoolboys for a training program at the Emirates dubbed ‘The Arsenal Way’.

The boys, aged between 10 and 15, are flying out to begin their training at the club’s stadium, The Emirates, from next month.

How did Arsenal, a club notorious for NOT traveling far and beyond to play profitable pre-season games (United are set to pick up more than 1m from their ‘friendly’ in Nigeria against Portsmouth) get all the away over to India?

Through the club’s club’s Indian partners, Tata Tea, owners of Tetley Tea.

Tata Tea say the objective is to give the children access to world-class training facilities. Arsenal say it is an opportunity to propagate the game in India.

But at the end of the day, it’s an opportunity for Tata Tea and Arsenal to make money from football in India. And if they can do it by arranging such training camps, more power to them.

Topics: Arsenal, English Premier League, Help Football, India

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7 Comments

  1. Steve

    You can say that about every academy in the world, even those within the club itself. Why do clubs have youth academies? To save itself money on buying players or selling players to make moeny. What’s the difference between having one in North London and having one in Inda, or Brazil, or Ivory Coast etc etc?

    What a stupid and pointless post – there is a world of difference between setting up academies and going over to other countries to play friendlies for money. I love having digs at other clubs, all fans do – but few would stoop so pathetically low

    July 26th, 2008 @ 12:47
  2. Gooner

    Arsenal give back to local people. What do man U do?

    July 26th, 2008 @ 12:49
  3. SpiralArchitect

    Great news. I’m dreaming of the first Indian football star in an Arsenal shirt… :D

    July 26th, 2008 @ 13:49
  4. Ahmed Bilal

    not a dig at Arsenal at all. Why are you so paranoid?

    July 26th, 2008 @ 13:52
  5. Steve

    ‘But at the end of the day, it’s an oportunity for Tata Tea and Arsenal to make money from football in India. And if they can do it by arranging such training camps, more power to them.’

    How does this not constitute a sly dig?

    July 26th, 2008 @ 16:10
  6. Sagar

    woopti woo
    can’t wait for the first indian to grace the premier league.

    July 27th, 2008 @ 01:27
  7. zeeshanali

    please open yuor club inside india we also want to play in EPL PLEASE WE R WAITING WE WANT FOOTBALL IN INDIA

    April 26th, 2010 @ 05:21

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