Danny Drinkwater

“I'm definitely a closed book and that's extended through most of my life, not just football.”

“We need to keep fighting for every ball.”

“There were a few things going on then away from football, my nan and grandad passed away quite close together and, this might sound daft to anyone who doesn't have a dog, but my dog passed away and that hurt me.”

“I'm open to going abroad, even though it will be difficult with my son.”

“I didn't have any stability in my life, so I was probably a bit lost as a person. I didn't know where I fitted in professionally and I didn't really know where I fitted in with my personal life and seeing my son, and it was really confusing. I think if you have one solid, then the other one you can manage.”

“Arsenal are a massive club, and a club a lot of people would love to play for.”

“I am a football fan.”

“Look, I know my Chelsea move hasn't worked out how anybody would have wanted and I've made mistakes, but it's not as simple as me just not playing football or picking up a wage.”

“Making a breakthrough at the big clubs, a lot of it is down to luck with your timing.”

“There have been things that come above football that have not been as simple as I'd like.”

“I need an anchor and I need to sort out one side of my life, so if I can sort my football out, even if it is abroad, then that will help in the long term.”