Jay Simpson
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jay-Alistaire Frederick Simpson | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker / winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Arsenal | ||
| Number | 50 | ||
Jay-Alistaire Frederick "Jay" Simpson (born December 27 1988 in Tottenham, London) is an English footballer who currently plays for Arsenal. He plays as an Striker or winger.
Playing career
Arsenal
Simpson has been at Arsenal since he was a boy in which he played in an under 18's game while only just 13 years of age. He has featured prominently for Arsenal's reserve team and was on the bench for Arsenal's Carling Cup match against West Bromwich Albion on October 24 2006, but did not play. On February 19 2007 he made history by becoming the first player ever to score a hat trick at Emirates Stadium, for Arsenal's U18 side in an FA Youth Cup match against Cardiff City, in a 3-2 win.[1]
Millwall
In August 2007 he was loaned from Arsenal to Millwall, and made his first-team debut as a substitute in a League One match on September 1 2007, a 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town. He scored his debut goal in a 3-2 loss to Swansea City in the first round of the Southern Section of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on September 4 2007, and his first league goal in a 2-1 loss to Swindon on September 29 2007. His loan was due to expire on January 1 2008, but was later extended to the end of the season.[2] Simpson scored 8 goals in 44 appearances for The Lions and won the PFA's Fans' League One player of the year award for 2008.[3]
Simpson thanked Millwall for giving him the chance to improve his game stating: "Going to Millwall was the best decision I have ever made. Playing regularly in the first team really developed my game. It helped me grow as a player and I made a lot of good friends. It did me the world of good. The Millwall fans were really good to me - and I appreciated their support."[4] Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger stated that he believed Jay Simpson had a future at Arsenal by stating “At the moment it is too early to say if he [Jay Simpson] has a future, but I think so yes. He has done extremely well and has scored goals. I always thought Jay was a very good player and the fact he can get good experience at Millwall makes us all happy, because he is not only a good player but a very nice boy.”[5]
Return to Arsenal
Simpson made his Arsenal first-team debut in a 6-0 win over Sheffield United in the League Cup, coming on as a substitute for Nicklas Bendtner in the 71st minute.[6] Jay scored his first and second senior Arsenal goals in the Carling Cup home match against Wigan on November 11, 2008.
International career
He has also been capped for the England Under-17 and England Under-18.
Career statistics
- (correct as of 25 September 2008)
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Carling Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Millwall (loan) | 2007-08 | 41 | 7 | ? | 4 | 1 | ? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 8 | ? |
| Arsenal | 2008-09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
References
- ^ Arsenal.com Player profile - Jay Simpson
- ^ Millwall - Simpson Signs Until End Of Season
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/7376293.stm Simpson named player of the year]
- ^ What The Papers Said | Millwall | News | Breaking News | Breaking News
- ^ Southwark News - Millwall
- ^ "Arsenal 6-0 Sheff United". BBC Sport.
External links
- Jay Simpson at Soccerbase
- Profile on Arsenal.com
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