Craig Eastmond

Craig Eastmond

Personal information
Full name	Craig Leon Eastmond
Date of birth	9 December 1990 (1990-12-09) (age 20)
Place of birth	Wandsworth, London, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Defensive midfielder, Right back
Club information
Current club	Arsenal
Number	40
Youth career
2000–2002	Millwall
2002–2009	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2009–	Arsenal	4	(0)
2010–2011	→ Millwall (loan)	6	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 06 February 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Craig Leon Eastmond (born 9 December 1990) is an English footballer who plays for Arsenal. A product of Arsenal Academy who came to prominence during 2008–09 FA Youth Cup, he can play as either a defensive midfielder or right back.^[1] Craig is cousin of Kyle Eastmond, who is a centre who currently plays for Bath.

Club career

Born in Wandsworth, London, Eastmond started at Millwall, but joined Arsenal when he was 11 years old. He was part of the team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2009.^[2] On 30 June 2009, it was announced that Eastmond along with three other members of the double-winning youth squad have signed professional terms.^[3]

2009–10 season

Craig made his first team debut on 28 October 2009 in the League Cup against Liverpool, and helped set up Arsenal's first goal in their 2–1 victory.^[4][5]

Eastmond made his Premier League debut against Portsmouth, as a 85th minute substitute in a 4–1 Arsenal away victory on 30 December 2009. Craig was handed his first Premier League start away to Bolton, alongside Cesc Fabregas and Abou Diaby in midfield on 17 January 2010 putting in a solid performance as the Gunners ran out 2–0 winners, with Eastmond being replaced by Fran Mérida after 62 minutes. On 24 January 2010, he made his FA Cup debut for the Gunners against Stoke City. He also played some part of the game as a right back after Francis Coquelin was substituted.

Eastmond signed a new long-term contract extension with Arsenal on 13 January 2010.^[6]

2010–11 season

Eastmond was not included in Arsenal's pre-season plans, losing his place to Emmanuel Frimpong. However, long-term injury to Frimpong saw Eastmond re-emerge in the Arsenal squad. His first appearance in the season came in the League Cup game against Newcastle United, which Arsenal won 4–0. Eastmond struggled in the first half but put in a good performance in the second half and played the full 90 minutes.

In light of injuries to Alex Song and Denílson, Craig Eastmond was handed his European debut away to Shakhtar Donetsk. He struggled during the game and failed to cover Dmytro Chygrynskiy during a set-piece. Chygrynskiy headed the ball towards the net but Eastmond got in the way of it, which in turn led to his own goal. He was substituted in 58th minute for Carlos Vela.^[7]

Millwall loan

Eastmond returned to his first club Millwall on the 25 January 2011, almost 10 years after he left the club as a youth. He stayed on loan with the Lions in the Football League Championship until the end of the 2010–11 season. He made his Millwall debut in the 2–0 home victory against Barnsley on 28 January 2011, playing 77 minutes before being substituted.^[8] On 29 April 2011, it was announced that Eastmond had broken his ankle during a training session at Millwall and is set for a lengthy spell out.^[9]

Style of play

Arsène Wenger is a keen admirer of "his intelligence in reading of the game".^[10]

Career statistics

Statistics accurate as of 22 May 2011^[11]

Club	Season	League			FA Cup			League Cup			Europe			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Arsenal	2009–10	4	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	0
	2010–11	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	0
Millwall F.C. (loan)	2010–11	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
Career total		10	0	0	1	0	0	4	0	0	1	0	0	16	0	0

Honours

Arsenal Reserves

• Premier Academy League (1): 2008–09
• FA Youth Cup (1): 2008–09

References

1. ^ Lambrou, Lambros (24 October 2007). "Young Guns: Defender Craig Eastmond". Arsenal F.C.. http://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/young-guns-defender-craig-eastmond. Retrieved 30 October 2009. 
2. ^ "Player profile: Craig Eastmond". Arsenal F.C.. http://www.arsenal.com/reserves-youth/players/craig-eastmond. Retrieved 30 October 2009. 
3. ^ "Four youngsters sign professional terms". Arsenal F.C.. 30 June 2009. http://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/four-youngsters-sign-professional-terms. Retrieved 8 February 2010. 
4. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (28 October 2009). "Arsenal 2–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8323097.stm. Retrieved 29 October 2009. 
5. ^ Clarke, Richard (28 October 2009). "Arsenal 2–1 Liverpool". Arsenal F.C.. http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3203881/first-team/arsenal-v-liverpool?tab=report. Retrieved 30 October 2009. 
6. ^ "Craig Eastmond signs new long-term contract". Arsenal F.C.. 13 January 2010. http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/craig-eastmond-signs-new-long-term-contract. Retrieved 13 January 2010. 
7. ^ http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3315153/first-team/shakhtar-donetsk-v-arsenal?tab=report
8. ^ "Match: Millwall v Barnsley - English League Championship - ESPN Soccernet". soccernet.espn.go.com. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=311955&cc=5739. 
9. ^ "Arsenal's Craig Eastmond breaks ankle". dailymail.co.uk. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1381680/Arsenals-Craig-Eastmond-breaks-ankle.html?ito=feeds-newsxml. 
10. ^ Eastmond is an intelligent player, arsenal.com, accessed 18 May 2010
11. ^ "Statistics". Arsenal FC. http://www.arsenal.com/reserves-youth/players/craig-eastmond. Retrieved 2010-11-02. 

External links

• Craig Eastmond career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile at Arsenal.com
• Craig Eastmond on Twitter

Persondata
Name	Eastmond, Craig
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	9 December 1990
Place of birth	Wandsworth, London, England
Date of death
Place of death