EXCITING attacker Nathan Tella has revealed that he looked up to and modelled his game after Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Saints academy graduate Theo Walcott.

Tella began his career in the Arsenal academy before joining Saints in 2017 where he went on to make his Premier League debut three years later. 

But he struggled to nail down a consistent starting role in the two seasons following his breakthrough and was allowed to depart on loan to Burnley last summer.

Moving down to the Championship Tella has flourished, scoring 17 league goals and earning a place in the division’s Team of the Year as his side coasted to the title.

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Capable of playing up front or out on the wing, Tella has finally started to showcase the talent that caused Saints to give him a new three-and-a-half year contract last January and speaking to Football Daily he offered some insight into his journey.

“I’ve always been an Arsenal fan and at that time I’d look at Thierry Henry and say he was my biggest inspiration in football,” the 23 year old explained. 

“He’s someone I tried to model my game after. Of course, at seven years old you can’t really say you play like someone but the stuff he was doing in games I would try to do with my local team. 

“Sometimes it worked, sometimes it wouldn’t but just having the confidence to try it, I feel like that’s what made me stand out a bit at an early age.

“And then as I was growing up a bit and getting older I started to look at Theo Walcott who moved from Southampton to Arsenal. 

"For me, being young and being at Arsenal at the time, I wanted to envision myself having that sort of exposure at such a young age. He was someone I looked at and I wanted to play my game like, especially because I moved to the right wing where he played.”

It remains to be seen what the future has in store for Tella who no doubt has admirers at both St Mary’s and Turf Moor. 

With Burnley going up to the Premier League and Saints almost certainly headed for the Championship it would be no surprise if Vincent Kompany’s side pursued a permanent move but Sport Republic hold the cards and will be able to demand a major fee for the attacking sensation.