Watt: Herschel Oulio Sanchez (Sanchez)

2010-2010 (Player Details)

Winger/Striker

Born: London: 14-02-1991

Debut: v Yeovil Town (a) (substitute): 05-04-2010

5’11” 11st 0lb (2010)

Watt studied at Morpeth Secondary School, Bethnal Green, until 2007 and was discovered by the Arsenal scouts while playing for Senrab as a seven-year-old in Victoria Park in East London. As a school boy Watt was regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in the country, so much so that Spanish outfit FC Barcelona were eager to sign him up. However, the move never happened, and several seasons on, the Londoner showed just why he attracted such interest. Blessed with quick and intelligent feet, Watt learned the importance of taking his chances as a first year scholar. Having already played Reserve team football as a fifteen-year old, he scored on his home debut for the Reserves against Portsmouth, and it seemed things just couldn’t get better, as international chances had opened up. He played and scored as England won the Algarve Tournament in 2008 and returned to Arsenal in blistering form. However, chasing a hopeful through ball, he clashed with the West Ham goalkeeper during the 2-1 victory at London Colney. He broke his foot missed two months and, after being knocked out against Southampton, he was forced to miss a large part of the year with concussion. On his return against Cardiff, Watt showed his true quality with a stunning lob from twenty-five yards. A Liverpool supporter, whose ambition was to score a goal at Anfield in the EPL, he signed his first professional contract for Arsenal in July 2008. He played forty-five minutes and scored against Huddersfield Town to help Arsenal win the Herbert Chapman Trophy at the Galpharm Stadium in the 2008-09 pre-season. Quick and intelligent, Sanchez was a key member of Arsenal’s Under-Eighteen double-winning side. Equally comfortable on the wing or up front, the Londoner appeared in all eight of the Youth Cup fixtures and netted a brace in the Semi Final before striking in both legs of the Final. He also continued his fine work for Arsenal's Reserves appearing eight times and scoring once, in the Gunners’ North London derby against Tottenham in April 2009. Competitive in the air and rapid on the floor, the wiry forward excelled in playing off the shoulder of the last defender but also provided an outlet as a more orthodox target man. He made six appearances for the Arsenal Reserve team and twenty-one for the Youth team, scoring seven goal as he operated mostly on the wing. Watt featured in all three of Arsenal's Carling Cup matches in the 2009-10 season. He scored on his Arsenal first team debut, in a 2–0 win over West Bromwich Albion in the Third Round of the League Cup at the Emirates Stadium on 22nd September 2009. His goal came in the sixty-eighth minute, when he guided the ball home from inside the penalty area after Carlos Vela's shot had been parried. He also came on as a seventy-sixth minute substitute in the home victory over Liverpool and came off the bench in the sixty-eighth minute in the away defeat to Manchester City. The young striker was also in the first-team squad, as an unused substitute, in the away UEFA Champions League victory over Standard Liege in September. He was loaned out to Southend United for a month on 1st February 2010, making his debut for them at Cochester United on 8th February 2010. He started four League games for them before returning to the Emirates Stadium on 1st March 2010. On 25th March 2010 Watt signed a loan deal with League One side Leeds United. He was not involved in Leeds' game against Norwich City, on 27th March 2010, but was named on the bench for their game at home to Swindon Town on 3rd April 2010, and made his Leeds debut as an eighty-eighth minute substitute at Yeovil Town, two days later. He also came on as an eighty-fifth minute substitute against his former loan club Southend United as Leeds triumohed 2-0 on 10th April 2010. He was again on the bench for the visit to Carlisle United on 13th April 2010, but was unused and, after a seventy-seventh minute substitute appearance at Gillingham on 17th April 2010, Watt was named in the starting line-up for the game against MK Dons on 24th April 2010, which Leeds won 4–1. He had a fine game setting up two of the goals and receiving the "Man of the Match" award before being replaced by Gary McSheffrey with nine minutes to go. He came on as a seventy-third minute substitutein United's penultimate game at Charlton Athletic and was on the pitch at the end of the final match to celebrate promotion to the CCCL in the final game against Bristol Rovers, after coming on as an eighty-seventh minute substitute. Reports from Elland Road suggested that Simon Grayson was considering an offer for Watt due to his success in the few games he played in. He scored five goals in nine appearances for Arsenal's Reserves in the 2009-10 season. Watt has represented England at Under-Sixteen, Under-Seventeen and Under-Nineteen levels.