Craig Eastmond has been talking about his career at Arsenal ahead of his current club, Sutton United’s, FA Cup clash against his former team.

Eastmond rose through the Arsenal ranks after joining our youth team from Millwall in 2002. He joined the senior team in 2009 and only made 10 appearances, instead spending most of his time on loan at Millwall, Wycombe Wanderers and Colchester, who he eventually signed for when he left Arsenal in 2013.

Despite never really cementing himself in the first team, Eastmond insists that he thought he’d be at Arsenal forever.

“I basically ran out of contract, obviously it wasn’t meant to be,” he said.

“I had been there for a long time and thought I’d be there forever, that’s what a boy does.

“I was assuming and hoping I would be at Arsenal forever because obviously I was an Arsenal fan

“It’s just one of the ones where my contract just ran out. I played a few games in the first-team but I wanted to play more and I just didn’t get another contract.”

Since joining Sutton in 2015, Eastmond has become a regular first team player. This season, he’s made 23 National League appearances and managed four assists. I imagine he’ll get the nod for the Arsenal clash, which will probably be a bit surreal for him.

Although he was never good enough for Arsenal’s first team, it’s good to see the 26-year-old doing what he enjoys and getting regular football.