PLAYER PROFILE

Jermaine Pennant

Position: Midfield

Height: 5'7

Weight: 10st 0lbs

Date of Birth: 1983-01-15 Nottingham, England

Jermaine Pennant

Jermaine Pennant is perhaps the most famous name to emerge from Arsenal's youth ranks in recent years, even though he is not strictly a product of their youth system.

He joined the Gunners from Notts County in a £2million deal as a 15-year-old - news that sparked a sensation on the back pages of the nation's press. But Wenger saw something in the youngster that he was sure would make him a vital addition to the Gunners' squad and vindicated the decision to sign him by making him Arsenal' youngest ever first-team player.

Pennant made his Gunners debut in a Worthington Cup tie against Middlesbrough in November 1999 - at the age of 16. He made an impressive start to his under-21 international career, but put it on the line when he upset David Platt after ignoring a curfew while away with the squad.

He made just two starts for the Gunners in the 2002/03 season, but made a big impression as he scored a memorable hat-trick in Arsenal's final home game of the season against Southampton. However the gifted winger struggled to establish himself in Arsene Wenger's starting XI, and joined Leeds in August 2003 on a two month loan to gain some valuable Premiership experience.

He did so well on his initial loan at Leeds that Peter Reid asked Arsenal to extend it for another month, which the Gunners agreed to, much to the delight of Pennant, who was relishing the chance for first team football in the top flight.

However, he couldn't help Leeds avoid the drop, and returned to Highbury in the summer to try and work his way into the champions' first team.

This plan met with little success though, and in January 2005 Pennant moved to Birmingham City, despite a second drink driving offence earlier in the month. He impressed for the Blues and even though his time there was interrupted by a spell in prison, they signed him permanently in April 2005.

However, Birmingham struggled in 2005/06 and ended up getting relegated at the end of the season. Pennant initially insisted that he would not leave the club if this happened, but when Liverpool came in for him there was no turning it down. He signed for his boyhood heroes for £6.7m in July 2006.

However, he struggled to find his form in the 2006/07 season and didn't have much more luck in the following campaign.