He came out of Arsenal’s academy, now former midfielder is playing in the Baller League

 

The Arsenal academy has seen plenty of stars graduate to play at the very top level, with some impressive careers that followed.

 

Some stuck around to feature for the first team, while others left to venture away from the Emirates Stadium to play elsewhere.

 

 

Their careers after leaving Arsenal have often taken many twists and turns, though they will always proudly remain a part of the Hale End academy system.

 

While many have seen sudden changes in their careers, one former star has taken a bold new leap elsewhere.

 

Former Arsenal star Henri Lansbury called up to Baller League

Henri Lansbury was one of those to come through the Arsenal academy, featuring for the under-18s and under-21s.

 

The midfielder had loan spells at Scunthorpe, Watford, Norwich and West Ham over a four-year stay in the first-team setup.

 

Lansbury made eight appearances for Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger backing him to be a top player during his time at the club.

 

In 2012 he joined Nottingham Forest before switching to Aston Villa five years later, with other short stays in the EFL with Bristol City and Luton Town following.

 

 

In the end, Lansbury retired in 2023, calling time on his professional playing career, though there was a recent twist.

 

The midfielder is one of several ex-professionals who have signed up to the new Baller League, a six-a-side football tournament.

 

Teams will be managed by the likes of Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Luis Figo, John Terry, Ian Wright and more.

 

Lansbury is now one of several former professionals who will take a new twist on football with the Baller League.

 

He joins the VZN team, managed by content creator Tobi Brown.

 

What is the Baller League and how does it work?

The Baller League is a six-a-side football tournament with 12-player squads and 15-minute halves for each team.

 

12 teams will all be looking to win the competition, though there is a slight twist to how the rules work.

 

In the final three minutes of each half, teams are reduced to three players, while the goalkeepers aren’t allowed to use their hands and long-range goals are worth double.

 

It adds a tense twist to the usual rules, opening up the game for more chaos in those final moments.