Not many Arsenal fans will have heard of Liverpool’s Ovie Ejaria, an 18-year-old who helped dump Spurs out of the League Cup on Wednesday night, let alone know he used to play for the Gunners.

At Arsenal from he was seven, Ovie Ejaria was released when he was 16 in the batch that saw Chuks Aneke, Zac Fagan, Zak Ansah and Leander Siemann leave the club.

Ejaria made his senior debut against Spurs in the EFL Cup and his rise from rejection is being hailed as more than a little bit impressive.

Speaking to the match day programme, Ejaria said, “It was tough [when Arsenal let me go], and it came as a bit of a shock, to be honest.

“But I was fortunate enough to have offers from a number of clubs at different levels, some others in the London area and some up north too.

“I chose Liverpool and I’m pleased that I did.

“It’s happened so quickly.

“Twelve months ago I wouldn’t have thought that this would have taken place, but of course I’m very happy that it has.

“Things have changed in a short space of time for me but it’s been really good.

“It was quite hard at first. I was only 16 and away from home but as time went on I became more used to it.

“One of the biggest things I’ve learnt since coming to Liverpool is becoming more independent. After a while everything became more familiar and I started to enjoy myself more so that helped a lot.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time here at Liverpool so far and I hope I will have many more good times with the club in the future.”

Ejaria sees himself as a ‘no.8 or 10’ as he added, “I have always played in the middle of the pitch,” he says. “Sometimes when I’ve been playing with the U23s this season I’ve been used out wide on the left, but I don’t find that too hard because I’m used to playing in a No.10 position. So I can come inside on occasions and play as a second No.10.

“But I would certainly describe myself more as an attacking midfielder, a No.8 or a No.10.”

He could well be one that Arsenal come to regret allowing to leave, but given the high numbers who come through the Academy, there’s always the chance that a player could blossom after leaving. Some players don’t do that until they are in their 20’s while the clubs are making a call on their future when they are just 16.

These things happen, and at least we know that Ejaria will have been given all the foundations needed to succeed.