| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ignasi Miquel Pons | ||
| Date of birth | 28 September 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Barcelona, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Arsenal | ||
| Number | 49 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2004 | Barcelona | ||
| 2004–2008 | Cornellà | ||
| 2008–2010 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2010– | Arsenal | 3 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008 | Spain U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2011 | Spain U19 | 9 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:15, 18 December 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Ignasi Miquel i Pons (born 28 September 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia) is a Spanish footballer player who currently plays for English club Arsenal. Ignasi is a central defender, but can also be utilized at left back. Miquel is a Spanish youth international and currently plays for the under-19 team.
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Born in Barcelona, Catalonia. Ignasi spent 5 years at the world famous La Masia academy before the decision was made that he was not showing enough promise, and was subsequently released. Miquel dropped down 5 divisions to play for Spanish minnow’s UE Cornellà but it wasn’t long before Ignasi was playing for the teams B outfit, leading to a call up to the Spanish under 16’s. A series of outstanding performances for the Spanish Youth side caught the eye of some of the world’s biggest clubs. Manchester United and Valencia CF both faxed trial offers, showing how his stock had risen in just a few months. Before Arsenal made a straight cash offer without a trial, Miquel and UE Cornellà were delighted and an agreement was struck. [1]
Ignasi joined the club just after his 16th birthday,[2] making his debut in the Zinedine Zidane Tournament held in Cannes.[3] Miquel made 12 appearances for the reserves in the 2009–10 season, becoming reserve team captain. He was selected as part of the first team squad for Cup games against Ipswich Town and Leeds United in January 2011[4] but did not feature in either game. On 20 February 2011, prior to Arsenal's FA Cup fifth round match against Leyton Orient, it was announced that he would be starting his first competitive match for the club.[5] He played the full 90 minutes as Arsenal drew with Leyton Orient 1–1.[6] On 2 March, Miquel played the full 90 minutes as Arsenal beat Leyton Orient 5–0 in the FA Cup replay at the Emirates.[7]
Miquel made his Premier League debut against Liverpool on 20 August, coming on for the injured Laurent Koscielny in the 16th minute as Arsenal lost 2-0. The first goal occurred as his clearance hit Aaron Ramsey's chest, resulting in an own goal.[8] Miquel made his second appearance of the season in the League Cup win against Bolton where he played the full 90 minutes on 25 October 2011. He then went on to make his third appearance in the competition on 29 November 2011 against Man City, which Arsenal lost 1-0. Miquel made his Champions League debut against Olympiacos on 6 December, coming on for André Santos in the 51st minute as Arsenal lost 3-1.
Miquel played for the Spain under-19 team that won the 2011 European Championship. He was ever-present, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in every game.
| Club | Season | League | Cup[10] | Europe | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Arsenal | 2010–11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011–12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
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