Nathan Tella admits it was embarrassing for him when he found out Arsenal wouldn’t be offering him a professional contract.

Now with Southampton, Nathan Tella spent many years in the Arsenal youth system. But in 2016/17, whilst the likes of Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe were signing professional contracts with the Gunners, Tella was informed he wouldn’t be getting one.

Speaking this week, Tella has admitted that was a difficult moment for him, after spending so long with the club.

“I couldn’t believe it, Arsenal was all I knew from the age of 6 when I got scouted,” Tella told Vavel.

“For me, it was a bit of an embarrassment because I didn’t know how I was going to tell all my friends and family that I was leaving Arsenal.

“It was tough because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Maybe stay at Arsenal, try force their hand and make another decision, or if I was to go out on trials.”

“I spoke to my family, I spoke to my agent they said its best to go trials to see what I can do and get out of my comfort zone.

“I had trials at Reading, Norwich, then ultimately Southampton and it’s good now, I’m really enjoying it.”

Thankfully for Tella, things have been working out with the Saints.

The winger has progressed through to their first team, making 37 appearances at senior level so far, and he even made his Emirates Stadium debut – playing 90 minutes against Arsenal in December.

Tella had arguably earned a starting spot towards the end of 2021, though a Covid-19 infection and a groin injury have seen him sidelined lately.

But it makes you think about the unlucky ones, who spend years with top academies only to miss out on a professional deal and struggle.

I can think of other players who went from the Arsenal u18/23s to being without a club completely, or who had to drop out of the English Football League to find a new team.

Some of them work their way back up eventually, like Finley Stevens. Stevens was released by Arsenal, joined non-league Worthing, and has since made his Premier League debut for Brentford.

Many others aren’t so fortunate. It’s a huge test of any young player to face a situation like Stevens’ or Tella’s, and credit to them for coming through it.