--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not easy to break into an Arsenal…" description: "\"It's not easy to break into an Arsenal team from youth.\" — Jay-Jay Okocha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/jay-jay-okocha-6466_arsenal_it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-t_1454819.jpg" --- # It's not easy to break into an Arsenal team from youth. ![“It's not easy to break into an Arsenal team from youth.” quote by Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/jay-jay-okocha-6466_arsenal_it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-t_1454819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/jay-jay-okocha-6466_arsenal_it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-t_1454819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/jay-jay-okocha-6466_arsenal_it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-t_1454819.jpg) > “It's not easy to break into an Arsenal team from youth.” [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Breaking into top‑level football from youth is extremely challenging. **In simple terms:** Top‑level football is hard to reach. Key Takeaway Persist despite difficulty. Themes sports career determination Mood determined inspirational Type sports motivational When to use this quote - youth academies - professional trials - coaching mentorship Key Concepts talent development competition opportunity Questions to Reflect On - What barriers have you faced? - How can youth improve chances? A Different Perspective Success requires both skill and luck. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [If I wasn't aiming to break into the Arsenal first team, that wouldn't be the correct mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reiss-nelson/if-i-wasn-t-aiming-to-break-into-the-arsenal-first-team-that-wouldn-t/) [Reiss Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reiss-nelson/) > [Chelsea are the team who can break the Arsenal and Manchester United monopoly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/chelsea-are-the-team-who-can-break-the-arsenal-and-manchester-united/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [Arsenal have always been the team closest to my heart and a side I've wanted to join since I was a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-guendouzi/arsenal-have-always-been-the-team-closest-to-my-heart-and-a-side-i-ve/) [Matteo Guendouzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-guendouzi/) > [I don't know how you get in the England squad without getting in the Arsenal team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-southgate/i-don-t-know-how-you-get-in-the-england-squad-without-getting-in-the/) [Gareth Southgate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-southgate/) > [Arsenal is a team that needs good footballers and leaders on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/arsenal-is-a-team-that-needs-good-footballers-and-leaders-on-the-field/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [When you are asked to play for Arsenal, and for the first-team at that, it is very hard to say no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/when-you-are-asked-to-play-for-arsenal-and-for-the-first-team-at-that/) [Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/) > [I was standing on the pitch at Old Trafford before the game. It was just my second-ever start in the Premier League - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/i-was-standing-on-the-pitch-at-old-trafford-before-the-game-it-was/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [Arsenal is the only team I've been at for more than a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-white/arsenal-is-the-only-team-i-ve-been-at-for-more-than-a-year/) [Ben White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-white/) > [I've lived in California my whole life, growing up and in college. Adjusting to the cold and learning how to dress for the cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-ve-lived-in-california-my-whole-life-growing-up-and-in-college/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [I've done a lot of great things playing for this country and this national team in the youth stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlyn-harris/i-ve-done-a-lot-of-great-things-playing-for-this-country-and-this/) [Ashlyn Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlyn-harris/) > [Arsenal is a team who challenge for the top and definitely match my ambitions and personal motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petr-cech/arsenal-is-a-team-who-challenge-for-the-top-and-definitely-match-my/) [Petr Cech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petr-cech/) > [What? We can't beat Arsenal? My team-mates were insecure and that shocked me, I had come from Real Madrid where I won everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-makelele/what-we-can-t-beat-arsenal-my-team-mates-were-insecure-and-that/) [Claude Makelele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-makelele/) > [Arsenal are the team that have left the biggest mark on me, without a doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/arsenal-are-the-team-that-have-left-the-biggest-mark-on-me-without-a/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [When I was playing, it wasnt even close. Arsenal were the team to beat when you turned off the North Circular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/when-i-was-playing-it-wasnt-even-close-arsenal-were-the-team-to-beat/) [Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/) > [Arsenal is a team that, even if they score two or three, people believe that at the end of the day, they might lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nwankwo-kanu/arsenal-is-a-team-that-even-if-they-score-two-or-three-people-believe/) [Nwankwo Kanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nwankwo-kanu/) ## More by Jay-Jay Okocha > [People wonder why I chose to come to Bolton. There's a different pressure and mentality here to PSG, where we were expected to challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/people-wonder-why-i-chose-to-come-to-bolton-there-s-a-different/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [Winning the Carling Cup would be the ultimate for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/winning-the-carling-cup-would-be-the-ultimate-for-me/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [Sometimes money is not everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/sometimes-money-is-not-everything/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [You can't play football without having a good training pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/you-can-t-play-football-without-having-a-good-training-pitch/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [I know there are millions of football fans who love this game, but can see the world outside it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/i-know-there-are-millions-of-football-fans-who-love-this-game-but-can/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [It is always nice to play for the bigger teams, contesting titles and Champions League rather than relegation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/it-is-always-nice-to-play-for-the-bigger-teams-contesting-titles-and/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [I often come across Russians and they're all interested in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/i-often-come-across-russians-and-they-re-all-interested-in-football/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [To be honest, I can live anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/to-be-honest-i-can-live-anywhere/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [Everybody wants to play in the Premiership and I like a big challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/everybody-wants-to-play-in-the-premiership-and-i-like-a-big-challenge/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [Well of course, as a fan I think I'd love to see Neymar play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/well-of-course-as-a-fan-i-think-i-d-love-to-see-neymar-play/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [My biggest opponent was 'me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/my-biggest-opponent-was-me/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [I am an instance of what is possible with a lot of hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/i-am-an-instance-of-what-is-possible-with-a-lot-of-hard-work/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [Messi and Ronaldo have dominated world football for a decade and, given the nature of football, at a certain point the baton will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/messi-and-ronaldo-have-dominated-world-football-for-a-decade-and/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [I am grateful to God for that because people can still identify me with something in Germany.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/i-am-grateful-to-god-for-that-because-people-can-still-identify-me/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [I realized at a very young age that I had a gift to do special things with the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/i-realized-at-a-very-young-age-that-i-had-a-gift-to-do-special-things/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) [Explore all 99 Jay-Jay Okocha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) ## More Arsenal quotes > [I have always followed Arsenal in the Premier League. At some points they were really good, but also had some difficulties like a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/i-have-always-followed-arsenal-in-the-premier-league-at-some-points/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [What do folk always say about Arsenal? They can pass you to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-adam/what-do-folk-always-say-about-arsenal-they-can-pass-you-to-death/) [Charlie Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-adam/) > [Don't put too much pressure on Jack Wilshere... in years to come I think he will be an Arsenal great like Liam Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/don-t-put-too-much-pressure-on-jack-wilshere-in-years-to-come-i-think/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/) [Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/) > [I want to stay at Arsenal for as long as I can, stay at the highest level and push this club back to where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-white/i-want-to-stay-at-arsenal-for-as-long-as-i-can-stay-at-the-highest/) [Ben White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-white/) > [My wish was to finish my career at Arsenal, but there are always banana skins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolo-toure/my-wish-was-to-finish-my-career-at-arsenal-but-there-are-always/) [Kolo Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kolo-toure/) > [I was at Arsenal as an 11-year-old. I really enjoyed it but I was at school and my dad used to drive me there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-noble/i-was-at-arsenal-as-an-11-year-old-i-really-enjoyed-it-but-i-was-at/) [Mark Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-noble/) > [Captaining your country, going out at Wembley, captaining Arsenal to 10 trophies, playing your first game - they're all amazing things. But, phew, saving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/captaining-your-country-going-out-at-wembley-captaining-arsenal-to-10/) [Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/) > [I was always respectful to Arsene and I think he respected me for that. We had a good relationship and understanding. We spoke a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukasz-fabianski/i-was-always-respectful-to-arsene-and-i-think-he-respected-me-for/) [Lukasz Fabianski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukasz-fabianski/) > [If you think about it, Washington's overwhelming power in the world is founded on death, the awesome arsenal for killing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/if-you-think-about-it-washington-s-overwhelming-power-in-the-world-is/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [A club like Arsenal is a fabulous club, it is a well-run club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/a-club-like-arsenal-is-a-fabulous-club-it-is-a-well-run-club/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [I don't think there was a danger of chaos at Arsenal. We have a fantastic manager who knows how to run the club. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wojciech-szczesny/i-don-t-think-there-was-a-danger-of-chaos-at-arsenal-we-have-a/) [Wojciech Szczesny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wojciech-szczesny/) > [I was at Arsenal but I didn't like the manager of the under-10s at the time so I went to West Ham where my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-was-at-arsenal-but-i-didn-t-like-the-manager-of-the-under-10s-at/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [ The best player I ever played against was Paolo Maldini. We \[Arsenal\] played against Milan in the European Supercup \[in 1995\]. Maldini marked me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/the-best-player-i-ever-played-against-was-paolo-maldini-we-arsenal/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [The true beauty of nature is her amplitude; she exists neither for nor because of us, and possesses a staying power that all our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/the-true-beauty-of-nature-is-her-amplitude-she-exists-neither-for-nor/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) Browse all 705 Arsenal quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not easy to break into an Arsenal team from youth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Jay Okocha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-team-from-youth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arsenal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-team-from-youth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/jay-jay-okocha-6466_arsenal_it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-t_1454819.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/jay-jay-okocha-6466_arsenal_it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-t_1454819.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/jay-jay-okocha-6466_arsenal_it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-t_1454819.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not easy to break into an Arsenal team from youth.” — Jay-Jay Okocha", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jay-Jay Okocha", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not easy to break into...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-team-from-youth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/it-s-not-easy-to-break-into-an-arsenal-team-from-youth/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```