Steve Sidwell revealed a personal touch from Arsenal's Academy chief Liam Brady made him forever grateful for the footballing education he received with the Gunners.

The midfielder returns to his former club this afternoon, where he honed his skills alongside the likes of David Bentley, Jerome Thomas and Jermaine Pennant.

Although he never got the chance to play for Arsenal's first team, there is no bitterness from Sidwell.

In fact, there was a clear a sign of mutual appreciation between the club and player when Sidwell joined Chelsea. It had been six years since Sidwell had left Arsenal, but his former mentor Brady was one of the first to congratulate him on his big move.

He said: "The education I got there, and the people who look after you can't be beaten.

"You can leave there bitter that you don't make it or grateful for what you learned - when I moved to Reading that's how I chose to be.

"When I signed for Chelsea I went on holiday and Liam Brady rang my parents to say how pleased he was for me.

"I'd left Arsenal six year earlier, but it was just a little sign of how they look after people."