Ex-Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte relives the club’s last league visit to Sheffield United 13 years ago

JUSTIN HOYTE was just 21-years-old when he first experienced a trip to Bramall Lane as an Arsenal first team player. It was December 30, 2006 – an injury-hit Arsene Wenger side were hoping to ensure they kept up their title challenge against Neil Warnock’s top-flight newbies in Sheffield United. But it’s an away day Hoyte […]

JUSTIN HOYTE was just 21-years-old when he first experienced a trip to Bramall Lane as an Arsenal first team player.

It was December 30, 2006 – an injury-hit Arsene Wenger side were hoping to ensure they kept up their title challenge against Neil Warnock’s top-flight newbies in Sheffield United.

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Juatin Hoyte playing for Arsenal against Sheffield United in 2006[/caption]

But it’s an away day Hoyte has little memory of – perhaps because he has been trying to wipe his mind of it ever since.

He told SunSport: “If I’m honest I can’t really remember the game itself.

“My dad had come up to watch but I got substituted after 64 minutes.

“All I can remember is that it was really, really cold and rainy and my hands were frozen.

“It’s such a tough and horrible place to go, and Arsenal found it especially tough.

“Warnock loved those games. If you were taking a throw-in near the dug-out he would walk up to you and be shouting at you or making little comments and jokes.

“The crowd get behind them from the off and make an incredible atmosphere and the pitch was never 100 per cent perfect, especially on that night.”

That night ended up being a Premier League classic, in Sheffield United’s eyes at least.

Christian Nade scored just before the break for the Blades after the Gunners missed a whole host of chances.

And to cap off an embarrassing outing for Wenger, defender Phil Jagielka spent the last 30 minutes donning the goalkeeper jersey for almost 30 minutes after Paddy Kenny’s injury after a goal kick went wrong.

Jagielka produced a heroic performance, including a spectacular close-range save to deny Robin van Persie late on.

Hoyte continued: “I was sat behind Arsene on the bench and it was the most agitated and frustrated I have ever seen him.

“Back in the changing rooms after the game you could just tell he was angry. He would always try to hide his true feelings to the players and try not to shout.

“But you could just see it on his face that he was disgusted with the result.”

Hoyte had started at right back in a young team that included the likes of Gael Clichy, Philippe Senderos and a teenage Cesc Fabregas.

And as Unai Emery’s Arsenal prepare to head back to Bramall lane in a league match for the first time since that rain-sodden trip 13 years ago, it could once again be a youthful line-up.

Bukayo Saka, Joe Willock, Matteo Guendouzi and Rob Holding are currently Arsenal’s young generation coming through the ranks.

Hoyte remembers the feeling, and admits there was an element of frustration with the perception that it was the young players who were at fault for Arsenal’s struggles away from home in the years following their move to the Emirates.

Dave Pineger

Phil Jagielka had to play the final 30 minutes in goal[/caption]

Dave Pineger

Christian Nade scored the goal in a 1-0 win for the Blades – one of only three Prem goals he scored that season[/caption]

He continued: “It was a different dressing room full of different characters as we had players moving on at that time but it was still a great dressing room.

“There were a lot of young guys in that team and none of us had really experienced a situation like Bramall Lane.

“People would always say it was the younger players who couldn’t cope but at the end of the day we would always give it our all.

“Sometimes we got the result, and sometimes we would create 100 chances and fail to score – so it’s a bit unfair to say the younger players couldn’t grind results out.”

Arsenal finished the season fourth – 21 points behind champions Manchester United.

But for Hoyte – who had been at the club since he was eight – it marked an incredibly successful breakthrough season with 18 Prem starts.

It did not last however – he made just five Prem appearances the season after before a permanent move to Middlesbrough in 2008 brought an end to his Arsenal dream.

He explained: “It was my dream to play for the club I supported, but at the same time as a young guy playing for a successful team there is so much pressure to do well instantly.

“You’re always worrying about how you played in a game and if you would be playing in the next one but 18 games was a huge achievement for me.

“I think I was in awe of too many of the big stars though. I was still in dreamland that I was simply a part of the team rather than wanting to fight and stay in the starting XI.

“In that sense, I let myself down.”

Hoyte found his feet at Boro, and saw glimpses of the future England boss in Gareth Southgate in his first venture into coaching.

And Hoyte saw first-hand the man-management skills that has seen Southgate create a Three Lions side with a refreshingly new identity.

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Hoyte played under Gareth Southgate during his first job as a coach at Middlesbrough[/caption]

Hoyte said: “He was great. From the first day to the day he left he was fantastic for me and my development.

“Still to this day I have a letter that he sent me after he was sacked. It was just full of words of encouragement for the future and it’s something I will cherish forever.”

Southgate’s actions off the pitch in recent weeks has also seen encouraging developments in the fight against racism – particularly out in Bulgaria.

Hoyte was subject to racist abuse when he was out in Serbia with the England U21s, and admires the way the country’s current stars have coped with the disgusting behaviour.

He said: “I felt they did the right thing. It’s never nice to be a part of something like that.

“I completely with what they are doing and how they are against it and handling the situation really well.

“Against Bulgaria, they put it behind them and proved people wrong.

“It’s so hard not to react when you’re trying to focus and still hearing things you shouldn’t be hearing.”

Hoyte spent six seasons at the Riverside before spells at Millwall and Dagenham and Redbridge – and then the MLS came calling.

He explains: “I’m in my third year in America with FC Cincinnati and I’ve loved every moment – it’s somewhere I have always wanted to play.

“It’s a different style of play and you’re playing on turf rather than grass. The flying to games is also something to get used to but at least you get to see the country.”

The 34-year-old added: “I’d like to play here for a few more years and stay out here as long as I can and transition into a coach.

“I’ve enjoyed watching different coaches and learning from them during my career.

“I’d love to come back to Arsenal and do that at some point so I will never say never, but it’s a growing sport out here and I’ve got a real knowledge of the game.

“I’ve played at the highest level and hopefully I can help younger players hoping to do the same.”