£3m full-back speaks highly of Arsenal, went to their games and talked to Ian Wright

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United left-back Barry Douglas has spoken highly of Arsenal, saying the Gunners were the first English team he liked growing up, going to a few games and even speaking with Ian Wright.

The Whites defender was born and bred in Glasgow, coming through the ranks at Queens’ Park and also playing at Dundee United before a stint in Turkey with Konyaspor.

Douglas then returned to Britain in 2017, spending a year with Wolves before linking up with Leeds for £3million the following summer.

The 30-year-old has made 39 appearances for Leeds, including 11 this season, as Marcelo Bielsa’s charges sit top of the Championship table and on the brink of Premier League promotion.

Discussing his formative days on the Leeds website, Douglas says he grew up watching Rangers but had an uncle in London who lived close to Highbury.

“I grew up watching Rangers, my family was from Pollock, which is five minutes from there,” he said.

“My uncle also lived in London, so when I went down to visit, he stayed two minutes from Highbury, and we went to a few games there.

“So Arsenal were probably the first English team I liked growing up, and I always remember talking to Ian Wright.”

TBR View:

Douglas will remember an Arsenal side at the top of their game, regularly tussling with Manchester United for silverware in the 1990s and culminating in the unbeaten season of 2003-04.

In contrast, that same season is one of misery for Leeds fans, being the one in which they dropped out of the Premier League, and haven’t been back since.

Until this year, perhaps? If the 2019-20 season can be played out and promotion and relegation remain on the cards, then the Whites should be able to get the job done, and Douglas could find himself lining up against the team he liked as a youngster – in the league this time.