Arsenal have bolstered their defensive ranks with Zech Medley signing a professional deal with the club.

https://twitter.com/Z_Medz/status/892739943243673600

Zech Medley has signed a professional contract after graduating from the club academy and will now be looking to push for his first appearance for the senior squad. “I’m working hard to cement a spot in the under-18s and improving my all-round game, especially heading, tackling and positioning,” he said to Arsenal.com.

The talented teenager originally signed for the club from rivals Chelsea but featured for Fulham in his younger years. “I came to Arsenal because I wasn’t getting the game time with Chelsea. I arrived last October on a trial and after two weeks I was told that Arsenal were happy to sign me.”

Medley will have stiff competition for game time in the first-team, with the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel and Calum Chambers ahead of him in the pecking order, let alone Mohamed Eleny and Nacho Monreal in makeshift roles.

But he’ll get the opportunities if he can impress on the training ground, something he’s more than happy to do. Manager Arsene Wenger will promote promising youth talent for domestic cup games and some European encounters if he deems them good enough.

Medley spoke out about how hard he will work to become a mainstay, while admitting he still had a lot to learn about the role. His career is still very young but he has some fantastic role models in the Arsenal side to take advice from.

Per Mertesacker will play a large role in the development of Arsenal’s kids next season, but the teen admitted it was the BFG’s defensive partner he admired.

The 17-year-old revealed a liking to Koscielny, admitted he tries to adopt his approach in games. “I like to watch the defending style of Laurent Koscielny. His fight, determination, positioning and physical approach are all aspects that I admire and try to absorb into the way I play.”