Arsenal have announced that promising young defender Zech Medley has signed a new contract with the club, having originally put pen to paper on professional terms back in 2017.
The 18 year-old central defender has made three first team appearance this season. Two in the Europa League – against Vorskla and Qarabag – and he was a late substitute in the FA Cup third round win over Blackpool last month.
The lifelong Arsenal fan said, ” It feels really good. I’m very pleased and honoured to be signing another contract with this club.
“I’ve been supporting them since I was a kid and I’ve been watching them since I was young, so to be able to sign with such an amazing team is really good.”
And on having made the fringes of the first team this season, he continued, “It’s been amazing.
“I’ve just tried to take everything in my stride and hopefully I can push on for more regular chances in the first-team.
“It’s really important to get that experience and to just be around players who are really good and playing at a world-class level so that I can learn off them and see how they train and prepare for big games.
“It’s really good for my development.”
He is still some way from competing on a regular basis but the new deal is a show of faith in him, and central defence is an area in which Arsenal will need to change the make-up of the personnel in the near future.
Laurent Koscielny is 33, Nacho Monreal will be 33 this month, and there are doubts over the long-term futures of some of the incumbents. It’s something to give a bit of motivation to any young defender, so best of luck to Zech Medley.
LANS.
He’s looked good so far.
Pronounced ‘Zek’ (like Petr Cech) or ‘Ze-sch’?
‘Zek’ (like Petr Cech)
Zechariah. Hard.
He’ll have to be as a defender too 🙂
Good luck to him.
Would like him to get a chance,unlike most Arsenal defenders he is tall,and I like what I’ve seen so far.
So he has the right altitude to succeed?
I’m looking forward to a Medley of clean sheets from Zech a good defender.
Good news. This guy has perfect name for a classic 80s video game. “Zach Medley Adventures in the Contract Zone” and so on…
Zech…
Nice to see a talented young defender coming through the ranks.
Does seem to be a plethora of attacking talent (I’m not complaining about that!) at the club.
Very sad to hear about Gordon Banks.
What a legend he was….
Sad but in fairness we’re all going to die and at 81, he lived a full and long life.
In truth, it’s actually the best way to live and die.
Really good.
Would be fantastic to have a center back come through the academy. Can’t remember the last one. Was Tony Adams our last “homegrown” center back?
I think Senderos and djourou were homegrown players or do you mean English homegrown!?
Probably Matthew Upson, I think. ?
We bought Upson from Luton, if memory serves…
His not in 1st team for a reason. Get rid of him. Dino mavarapanos equals clean sheets
Were you dropped on your head when young?
He is 18! Surely you can’t just be letting every 18 year old defender go if there not in the first team.
Would be great if fans would give some patience and opportunity for youth, but I think the cries to by a ready-made CB at every given opportunity will be too strong.
Patience will be all we have in the near future as kse look for more bargains and internal solutions to our personnel needs.
physically exactly what we want in a CB. Hope they send him on loan next year so he gets experience.