Ignasi Miquel

This is a Catalan name. The first family name is Miquel and the second is Pons.
Ignasi Miquel

Miquel playing for Arsenal in 2011
Personal information
Full nameIgnasi Miquel Pons
Date of birth28 September 1992
Place of birthBarcelona, Spain
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current team
Norwich City
Number15
Youth career
1999–2004Barcelona
2004–2008Cornellà
2008–2010Arsenal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2010–2014Arsenal5(0)
2013–2014→ Leicester City (loan)7(0)
2014–Norwich City0(0)
National team
2008Spain U162(0)
2011Spain U199(1)
2013Spain U211(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:11, 11 May 2014 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Ignasi Miquel Pons (born 28 September 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer player who plays for English club Norwich City F.C.. Ignasi is a central defender, but can also be utilized at left back. He is a Spanish youth international and has played for the under-21 team, under-19 team and under-16 team.

Club career

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Miquel spent five years at La Masia academy before being released. Miquel transferred to UE Cornellà but it wasn't long before Miquel was playing for the club's reserve team, 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. Arsenal however made a straight cash offer without a trial and an agreement was struck.[1]

Arsenal

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]

2011–12 season

Ignasi enjoyed a season to remember in the first team after being called into action in both the Premier League and Champions League. Miquel made his Premier League debut against Liverpool on 20 August 2011, coming on for the injured Laurent Koscielny in the 16th minute as Arsenal lost 2–0. Liverpool's first goal occurred when Miquel's clearance hit Aaron Ramsey's chest, resulting in an own goal.[8] Miquel made his second appearance of the season and his debut in the Football League Cup in the 3–1 win against Shrewsbury Town.[9] Miquel would go onto play every minute of Arsenal's 2011–12 League Cup campaign as they reached the Fifth Round before being knocked out by Manchester City.[10] On 6 December 2011, Miquel made his UEFA Champions League debut for Arsenal in the 3–1 away defeat to Olympiacos, coming on for André Santos in the 51st minute.[11] On 9 January 2012, Miquel made his first FA Cup appearance of the season, starting at left back as Arsenal beat Leeds United 1–0 in the Third Round.[12] On 15 January 2012, Miquel made his first Premier League start in the 3–2 defeat to Swansea City, playing the full 90 minutes at left-back.[13]

2012–13 season

Miquel made his first start of the season and scored his first career goal in the 6–1 victory over Coventry City FC in the League Cup. Miquel headed home an Andrei Arshavin cross from close range.[14] Miquel made his first Premier League appearance of the season in the 1–0 away victory over Sunderland AFC, replacing Theo Walcott as a substitute in the 88th minute.[15]

Loan to Leicester City

On 9 August 2013, Miquel joined Championship side Leicester City on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season.[16] Ignasi made his debut for The Foxes on 27 August 2013 in the 5–2 away win over Carlisle United in the second-round of the League Cup.[17]

Miquel scored his first goal for the club against Fulham on 30 October 2013, in the League Cup, helping his side progress into the quarter-finals (with a 4–3 win).[18][19]

Norwich City

Ignasi joined the club a few hours before the close of the 2014 summer transfer window on a 3 year deal with and option of a further 12 months [20]

International career

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. Miquel made his debut for the Spanish U21 team on Tuesday 5 February 2013 in the 1–1 draw against Belgium, coming on as a 57th minutes substitute for Jordi Amat.[21]

Club statistics

As of 21 December 2013[22]
Club Season League Cup[23] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal 2010–11 Premier League00200020
2011–12 Premier League40401090
2012–13 Premier League10210031
Leicester City (loan) 2013–14 Championship7051--121
Career total 12 0 13 2 1 0 26 2

References

  1. ↑ "Arsenal's Miquel Promises To Be One for the Future «". Young Guns Blog. 20 December 2011.
  2. ↑ "Highly rated Spanish youngster Ignasi Miquel signs". IMScouting. 5 October 2009. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  3. ↑ "Arsenal Win The Zinédine Zidane Tournament in Cannes « Young Guns". Young Guns Blog. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  4. ↑ Muro, Giuseppe. "Miquel striving for first-team opportunities". Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  5. ↑ "Team News: Miquel starts at Orient". Arsenal.com (Arsenal Football Club). 20 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  6. ↑ "Leyton Orient 1–1 Arsenal". Arsenal.com. Arsenal Football Club. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  7. ↑ "Arsenal 5 – 0 Leyton Orient". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  8. ↑ "BBC Sport – Arsenal 0–2 Liverpool". BBC. 20 August 2011.
  9. ↑ "BBC Sport – Arsenal 3–1 Shrewsbury". BBC. 20 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "BBC Sport – Arsenal 0–1 Manchester City". BBC. 29 November 2011.
  11. ↑ "Match Report – Olympiacos v Arsenal – 6 December 2011". Sky Sports. 6 December 2011.
  12. ↑ "Match Report – Arsenal v Leeds United". 9 January 2012.
  13. ↑ "Premier League: Swansea 3–2 Arsenal – Report". Arsenal.com.
  14. ↑ "Arsenal 6–1 Coventry City – Match Report". Arsenal.com. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  15. ↑ "Sunderland v Arsenal – 9th Feb 2013". Sky Sports Football.
  16. ↑ "Gunner Miquel joins City". www.LCFC.com. Leicester City F.C. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "BBC Sport - Carlisle 2–5 Leicester". BBC.
  18. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24619466
  19. ↑ http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/301013-miquel-an-unbelievable-feeling-1144973.aspx
  20. ↑ "Spanish youth international defender joins Norwich".
  21. ↑ "Siempre Cantera – Futbol Base en España – Selección Sub 17 y Sub 21".
  22. ↑ "Ignasi Miquel". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  23. ↑ Includes FA Cup and League Cup

External links