Former Arsenal youth team captain was sentenced to four years in prison for drug trafficking. He almost came to China to play football five years ago

One thing is certain: he can score. This is a talent that cannot be cultivated later - right foot, left foot, and both inside and outside the penalty area, this guy is an incredible terminator.

- Former Arsenal head coach Arsenal Wenger, 2010.

When the judge pronounced a four-year sentence, the former football player standing in the dock lowered his head. Jay Emmanuel Thomas stood expressionlessly, with his hands behind his back, and two security personnel stood on both sides.

He was a dazzling star at Arsenal and later became an excellent center, playing for many clubs in England, Scotland and around the world.

Now, however, he is being tried as an international drug smuggler. He tried to bring 60 kilograms of marijuana into the UK, which had a black market value of £600,000, and he also used deception to make his girlfriend his "mule".

At the age of 34, his career ended. His attorney Alex Ross said it was undoubtedly an "absolutely huge blow" for someone who "submits to temptation and makes disastrously wrong judgments."

But what exactly caused Emmanuel Thomas to go on the path of crime? Why did a person who has a 16-year professional football career and is described as "abiding by laws and regulations throughout his life" end up like this?

is mainly because of "temptation", but in his own words, "stupidity" is also one of the reasons, and he also faces a certain degree of economic difficulties. This may indicate that footballers below the Premier League have not always lived as wealthy as many think. The court heard that Emmanuel Thomas's career income had been squandered and he could no longer obtain a large contract like his early years. At the time of arrest, he played for the Scottish Champions League (Scotland Second Division) team Greenock Muton, with a weekly salary of £600 plus bonus.

Judge Alexander Mills told him: "It's obvious that this crime is for money, even though you have the honor of playing football for a living."

"You will no longer be known as a professional player because of your own behavior. You will be regarded as a criminal - a former professional football player who abandons everything for money and puts others in prison."

1

16 years ago, Emmanuel Thomas, as captain, led the Arsenal youth team to win the championship with a total score of 6:2 in the Youth FA Cup final.

Arsenal participated in that two-leg final, including Jack Wilhelm, Francis Cocklin and Henry Lansbury, who later became Premier League players. However, the most eye-catching thing is the boy with the acronym "JET" - tall, powerful, broad shoulders, and able to score goals in every round of the game, which looks destined to become a star. Some Liverpool players can't even believe he is only 18 years old.

Emmanuel Thomas was selected for the Arsenal first team at the age of 17 and trained for nearly two years under the close attention of head coach Wenger.

However, being selected for the first team puts Thomas in a difficult situation. In the Arsenal reserve team, his strength is too outstanding and he is no longer suitable for playing in the reserve team. When he comes to the first team, his strength seems to be insufficient and does not meet the selection criteria. After leaving the "arsan", the head coaches of several teams he played for once thought he was a "elegant failure" - although he was likable and talented, he never met people's expectations.

At Arsenal, he played in all positions except right back and goalkeeper in the youth and reserves. First team coach Steve Boulder had wanted to develop him as a central defender. However, Wenger made it clear that he, like Emmanuel Thomas himself, believes that he is suitable for a forward.

At that time, the Arsenal forward was still Henry and Van Persie in charge, and it was not easy for any forward of the youth team to enter the first team. Even after Henry's transfer to Barcelona in the summer of 2007, the competition for Arsenal's forward was still very fierce.

"It was a tough time because Arsenal's offensive team was very strong at the time," Emmanuel Thomas said in an interview in 2021. "After Henry left, we still had Van Persie, Al Shavin, Walcott, Bella and Bentner, and my playing pick was behind everyone. In the youth training echelon, I have surpassed all players who are in the same level as me and two levels higher than me, but it is still difficult to get first-team game time." In court, Emmanuel Thomas's lawyer team said his criminal record was "a shame he must bear for his whole life."

However, it is certain that even if this case has not been committed, Emmanuel Thomas is on the road of illegal crimes.

"Wenger thinks he can lead Arsenal to the top," said Steve Cotterill, who coached England's third-tier team Bristol City from 2013 to 2015 when Emmanuel Thomas played under him. "So, he didn't reach his full potential. But over the years, I've seen a lot of players like him, so he's not much different from many of them." Emmanuel Thomas decided to leave North London in 2011 after being loaned to the Championship team by Arsenal several times. He played for two seasons with the Championship side Ipswich, and the adventure paid off, with 42 of his 46 league games for the team in his first season. In 2013, he moved to Bristol City, where he played the best football of his career.

"I knew right away that he was extraordinary," Cotterill said. "He can complete some of the most exciting 70-yard sprints you've ever seen in his life, and he can pass five players in the sprint.. Later, on his first appearance in court, he denied any misconduct, insisted that he was not guilty and would defend the charges.

In fact, he made careful preparations for the operation and even arranged a simulation drill two months ago. Police believe his ties to the Thai underworld may have begun during his time with Thailand's PTT Rayong team in 2019.

"Organized criminals like Emmanuel Thomas are very inflammatory and will pay the 'mules'," said David Phillips, senior investigator of the NCA. "But taking risks for rewards is not worth it because the risk of being caught is very high."

At a court hearing last month, the criminal charges of two women were dropped, the prosecution admitted that they were cheated, and Emmanuel Thomas also pleaded guilty. Piotrosca wiped his eyes with a tissue, and Roland shook his head, obviously incredible. A month later, Piotrosca, who was in tears, appeared again in court to witness the verdict of Emmanuel Thomas.

" Most players (in Bristol City) will be surprised by what happened," Cotterill said. "If you ask me if I think he will be involved in this kind of thing, my answer is no. He is easy-going, very easy-going. So I think this will probably shock everyone."

Does Emmanuel Thomas have to serve a four-year sentence? No need. He has been in jail since his arrest, and this period will be deducted from his sentence. The judge told him that he only needs to serve another 19 months in total to receive parole, depending on whether he performs well. He has been working as a spiritual mentor for young prisoners at Chelmsford Prison, the court heard.

In a letter to the judge, the former footballer described his arrest and what happened thereafter as "the most painful and eye-opening experience of my life."

He said it was the hardest letter he had ever written, explaining how he disappointed his family, friends and everyone he knew in the football world, including supporters of the team he once played for.

He went on to talk about the deep shame he felt as a father of two, because he once regarded his father as a role model, who had guided him away from temptation. His daughter had visited him in prison, and the former Arsenal "Future Star" explained: "It broke my heart - I never want her to look at me with that look."