Preston North End midfielder Sam Greenwood played for Arsenal between 2018 and 2020 and will face his former side in the EFL Cup last 16 at Deepdale on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old was just 16 years old when he signed for the Gunners for an estimated £500,000. However, Greenwood didn’t make a senior appearance for the North Londoners before joining Leeds United in 2020.
Preston North End’s Greenwood: “Not Going to be Easy for Them”
After three seasons at Elland Road and a diversion to Middlesbrough on loan, Greenwood is now at Preston. The midfielder arrived at Deepdale on a season-long loan from Leeds in July and has started to find form. In his last two appearances, the 22-year-old has made three goal contributions.
Ultimately, Greenwood will hope to bring his improving form into Wednesday’s home cup clash against Arsenal. Looking ahead to the match in an interview with the Lancashire Post, the midfielder said he cannot wait to face his former club.
It obviously makes (Wednesday) a bit more exciting for me. Anything can happen in a cup game. We have just got to believe in ourselves. It’s kind of a free hit; we know how good they are.
While the former Boro man remains cautious of Arsenal’s quality, he feels the Lillywhites have a good chance if they play to their best.
They are one of the best teams in the world. We’ve just got to give it everything and hopefully we can win. The pressure is on them I would say.
We can raise our game, but if we give it our all then they are obviously going to find it hard. It is not going to be easy for them, I don’t think.
Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston heads into this cup encounter with Arsenal unbeaten in five. The Lancashire side also eliminated Premier League outfit Fulham at home in the previous round. After a 1-1 draw in full-time, Preston eventually won 17-16 in a marathon penalty shootout.
Writer’s View
Greenwood clearly has huge respect for his former club and is aware of the task facing Preston on Wednesday. But his admission that the Lillywhites can stun Arsenal is a testament to his own belief and that instilled by Heckingbottom since his arrival at Deepdale in late August.
