# Ben Cottrell > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ben_Cottrell > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ben_Cottrell.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Cottrell > Source revision: 1356105532 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|English footballer (born 2001)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ben Cottrell | image = | image_size = | caption = | full_name = Ben Aaron Cottrell{{WorldFootball.net|ben-cottrell}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|10|31|df=y}} | birth_place = [Watford](/source/Watford), England | height = 1.66 m | currentclub = [Zemplín Michalovce](/source/MFK_Zempl%C3%ADn_Michalovce) | clubnumber = 80 | position = [Midfielder](/source/Midfielder) | youthyears1 = 2010–2020 | youthclubs1 = [Arsenal](/source/Arsenal_F.C.) | years1 = 2020–2023 | clubs1 = [Arsenal](/source/Arsenal_F.C.) | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2023–2024 | clubs2 = [Mura](/source/N%C5%A0_Mura) | caps2 = 11 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2024– | clubs3 = [Zemplín Michalovce](/source/MFK_Zempl%C3%ADn_Michalovce) | caps3 = 35 | goals3 = 8 | nationalyears1 = 2016 | nationalteam1 = [England U16](/source/England_national_under-16_football_team) | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2019 | nationalteam2 = [England U18](/source/England_national_under-18_football_team) | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | club-update = 25 May 2026 | ntupdate = }} '''Ben Aaron Cottrell''' (born 31 October 2001) is an English professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who plays as a [midfielder](/source/midfielder) for [Slovak First Football League](/source/Slovak_First_Football_League) club [Zemplín Michalovce](/source/MFK_Zempl%C3%ADn_Michalovce). ==Club career== ===Arsenal=== Born in [Watford](/source/Watford), Cottrell joined the academy of [Premier League](/source/Premier_League) club [Arsenal](/source/Arsenal_F.C.) on 3 June 2010, at the age of eight.{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/historic/players/ben-cottrell|title=Ben Cottrell|access-date=13 September 2023|website=arsenal.com}} He progressed through the club's ''Hale End'' academy, where his performances drew interest from German and French sides, [Borussia Dortmund](/source/Borussia_Dortmund) and [Marseille](/source/Olympique_de_Marseille), respectively.{{cite web|url=https://talksport.com/football/445558/borussia-dortmund-marseille-arsenal-academy-wonderkid-ben-cottrell/|title=Borussia Dortmund and Marseille looking to raid Arsenal academy for wonderkid Ben Cottrell|first=Sean|last=O'Brien|date=13 November 2018|access-date=13 September 2023|website=talksport.com}} He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/lopez-cottrell-hillson-sign-first-pro-contracts|title=Lopez, Cottrell, Hillson sign first pro contracts|date=2 July 2019|access-date=13 September 2023|website=arsenal.com}} Cottrell made his unofficial debut in Arsenal's 4–1 pre-season [friendly](/source/Exhibition_game) win against [Milton Keynes Dons](/source/Milton_Keynes_Dons_F.C.); coming on as a second-half substitute for [Kieran Tierney](/source/Kieran_Tierney), he impressed in an unnatural [left wing-back](/source/Defender_(association_football)) position.{{cite web|url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/players/ben-cottrell-mikel-arteta-breakthrough-18830286|title=Ben Cottrell sets the tone for Arsenal youngsters aiming to breakthrough under Mikel Arteta|first=Art|last=De Roche|date=26 August 2020|access-date=13 September 2023|website=football.london}} Later in the same season, he was included in Arsenal's senior squad ahead of a [UEFA Europa League](/source/UEFA_Europa_League) fixture against Norwegian opposition [Molde](/source/Molde_FK), alongside fellow academy graduate [Miguel Azeez](/source/Miguel_Azeez).{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/11/24/mikel-arteta-includes-two-teenage-rookies-in-travelling-arsenal-squad-for-molde-clash-13648796/|title=Miguel Azeez and Ben Cottrell included in Arsenal squad travelling to Molde|date=24 November 2020|access-date=13 September 2023|website=metro.co.uk}} Despite not featuring in Arsenal's 3–0 win, he remained on manager [Mikel Arteta](/source/Mikel_Arteta)'s radar, and made his professional debut in Arsenal's 4–2 win against Irish side [Dundalk](/source/Dundalk_F.C.) on 10 December 2020, coming on as a second-half substitute for [Emile Smith Rowe](/source/Emile_Smith_Rowe).{{cite web|url=https://guernseypress.com/sport/uk-sport/2020/12/10/eddie-nketiah-helps-fire-arsenal-to-victory-over-dundalk/|title=Eddie Nketiah helps fire Arsenal to victory over Dundalk|date=10 December 2020|access-date=13 September 2023|website=guernseypress.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/ben-cottrell-makes-permanent-move-ns-mura|title=Ben Cottrell makes permanent move to NS Mura|date=1 August 2023|access-date=13 September 2023|website=arsenal.com}} Having been ruled out for most of the 2021–22 season, only playing in two games, he returned to regular action the following year, but found first-team opportunities limited, despite impressing in the [Premier League 2](/source/Professional_Development_League).{{cite web|url=https://tbrfootball.com/arsenal-coach-loved-ben-cottrells-performance-on-friday-artetas-only-played-him-once/|title=Arsenal coach loved Ben Cottrell's performance on Friday, Arteta's only played him once|first=Ben|last=Evans|date=16 April 2023|access-date=13 September 2023|website=tbrfootball.com}} ===Mura=== In August 2023, he completed a permanent transfer to Slovenian side [Mura](/source/N%C5%A0_Mura), becoming the first Englishman to play for the club.{{cite web|url=https://planetnogomet.si/novice/mura-prestop-arsenal-ben-cottrell/|title=Mura je uspešno poslovala s kultnim Arsenalom: V Murski Soboti bo kariero nadaljeval 21-letni angleški vezist Ben Cottrell|trans-title=Mura did successful business with the iconic Arsenal: 21-year-old English midfielder Ben Cottrell will continue his career in Murska Sobota|date=29 July 2023|access-date=13 September 2023|website=planetnogomet.si|language=sl}}{{cite web|url=https://nsmura.si/ben-cottrell-je-carno-bejli/|title=Ben Cottrell je čarno-bejli!|trans-title=Ben Cottrell is charming!|date=1 August 2023|access-date=13 September 2023|website=nsmura.si|language=sl}} ===Zemplín Michalovce=== On 9 December 2024, Cottrell joined [Slovak First Football League](/source/Slovak_First_Football_League) club [Zemplín Michalovce](/source/MFK_Zempl%C3%ADn_Michalovce) on a two-and-a-half year deal, once again becoming the first Englishman to represent the club. {{cite web|url=https://mfkzemplin.sk/post/5874/z-arsenalu-az-do-michaloviec.html|trans-title=From Arsenal to Michalovce!|title=Z Arsenalu až do Michaloviec!|language=Slovak|website=mfkzemplin.sk|date=9 December 2024|accessdate=9 December 2024}} He scored his first goal for Zemplín in a 4:2 loss against [MFK Skalica](/source/MFK_Skalica).{{Cite web |title=MFK Zemplín Michalovce - MFK Skalica {{!}} Detail zápasu |url=http://www.nikeliga.sk/zapas/2602-mic-ska |access-date=2025-07-27 |website=Niké liga}} ==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 12 May 2024}}{{Soccerway|ben-cottrell/546616}} {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="5"|[Arsenal U21](/source/Arsenal_F.C._Under-21s_and_Academy) |[2019–20](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_EFL_Trophy) |—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in the [EFL Trophy](/source/EFL_Trophy)}}||0||2||0 |- |[2020–21](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_EFL_Trophy) |—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||4{{efn|name=EFLT}}||0||4||0 |- |[2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_EFL_Trophy) |—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||0||0||0||0 |- |[2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_EFL_Trophy) |—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||6||0||6||0 |- |rowspan="4"|[Arsenal](/source/Arsenal_F.C.) |[2020–21](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_Arsenal_F.C._season) |rowspan="3"|[Premier League](/source/Premier_League) |0||0||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in the [UEFA Europa League](/source/UEFA_Europa_League)}}||0||0||0||1||0 |- |[2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_Arsenal_F.C._season) |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |[2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_Arsenal_F.C._season) |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1||0 |- |[Mura](/source/N%C5%A0_Mura) |[2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_Slovenian_PrvaLiga) |[Slovenian PrvaLiga](/source/Slovenian_PrvaLiga) |11||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0||13||0 |- !colspan=3|Career total !11||0||2||0||0||0||1||0||6||0||20||0 |} {{notelist}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{MFK Zemplín Michalovce squad}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Cottrell, Ben}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Watford Category:English men's footballers Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Slovenian PrvaLiga players Category:Arsenal F.C. players Category:NŠ Mura players Category:MFK Zemplín Michalovce players Category:English expatriate men's footballers Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Slovenia Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Slovakia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Slovenia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Slovakia Category:21st-century English sportsmen --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ben Cottrell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Cottrell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Cottrell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.