Emeka Peters: Breaking through, idolising Cristiano Ronaldo, and playing the Brentford way | OneFootball

After completing his second scholarship year, young Brentford winger Emeka Peters reflects on a standout season for the Under-18s, whilst also making an impact across the campaign for Brentford B.

He sat down to discuss settling into life at Brentford, dealing with a broken arm, and learning from those around him at the Robert Rowan Performance Centre.

Peters joined the Bees from Fulham in the summer of 2023 on a two-year scholarship. In his second season with the west Londoners, he found some excellent goalscoring form.

Peters said: “It’s been very good. As with every season, it’s been full of ups and downs, but both the ups and downs have been great lessons.

“I broke a bone in my arm during the season and that came with its own challenges, but I’ve come back and was excited to rejoin the team and had a positive personal end to the season.

“I’ve floated between the Under-18s and the B team, learning from different experiences. Both have been good and it’s about being able to adapt to each playing style.

“I’ve added new bits to my game with Jon-Paul Pittman and all the other staff who have helped me along the way."

Having won the Merit League Two last season with the Bees, Peters, like the rest of the Under-18 squad, has had to step up a level this year.

Brentford Academy entered Category Two status this term as the Under-9s to Under-16s age groups were reintroduced at Jersey Road and, as such, the Under-18s entered the Professional Development League.

Peters explained: “There have been challenges along the way, obviously the fixtures that we play are against better teams and are higher quality, but I think it’s been much better for our development to test ourselves.

“The football that we’ve played as a team and the games that we’ve won in a good second half to the season shows that. We’ve been scoring goals and beating teams like Sheffield United 7-1."

On the subject of goals, Peters was the most productive player in the Under-18s, scoring 14 times and assisting six goals from the flanks: "It’s great helping the team with goals whenever I can to get three points.

"That’s what my job is as an attacker and what I love to do. I’m looking to push on for more next season."

Despite an excellent latter half of the season, the young winger had to be patient after suffering that nasty broken bone in his arm.

“It’s not my first bone break, I broke the same arm six or seven years ago, and I’ve also broken my collarbone," said Peters.

“It’s not nice when it happens, but I have a great family who are always there to support me, and they gave me a big energy boost. Also, knowing that I can come back to work harder and be better gives me a lot of motivation.”

A natural winger with bags of pace and technical ability on the ball, Peters takes inspiration from different generations of footballing talent.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is still my idol and always will be, but obviously as you get older you can learn from more players," explained Peters.

“In the modern era, I really like Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and those kinds of players who can cut in off the wing."

For Peters, when asked if Brentford and the Robert Rowan Performance Centre are starting to feel like home, there was a definitive answer.

“100 per cent, I love it here. It’s a great environment and the academy is getting better day by day, the development is top,” said the 18-year-old forward.

It’s not just the environment that Peters is thriving in though, he’s also enjoying playing the Brentford way: "We are a high-pressing club and, on the ball, we are always counter attacking and looking to get runs in behind.

"I really enjoy the high press; as a forward, when you win the ball, you’re in the box so you’re closer to the goal and that’s where I want to be.

“When I look at the B team, there’s not a single player that I can’t learn something off. Looking at those who have gone on loan like Ashley Hay and done well, and those that are here like Iwan Morgan, it’s so motivating to see.

“I just need to keep working on increasing the tempo and, when I get to train with them, you can see that, if you work hard, you’ll be able to replicate the same thing.”

Peters has had a taste of life with the B team already, playing in crucial games at the business end of the season, including scoring a brace in the London Senior Cup semi-final and coming on as a substitute in the Premier League Cup semi-final.

As well as this, he scored and assisted in the 6-1 Robert Rowan Inviational win against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s at Gtech Community Stadium.

Peters stated: “Being involved in the London Senior Cup, especially in the quarter-final against Welling, when all the U18s helped get the three goals and the win. Then I got two goals in the semi-finals in a great team performance.

“I want to come into the B team and show that I’m here to help the team win through scoring goals and assisting. I want to show that I’m a hard worker and, whatever competitions we have to play in, I want to win.”

His brace in the London Senior Cup semi-final featured an excellent left-footed finish, something that he’s been working on from a very young age.

“It’s something that my dad taught me when I was younger, I couldn’t even stand on my left leg!” laughed the young forward.

“We just went to the park and were always doing weak-foot drills. Now I feel I’m a threat on both feet."

Reflecting on a strong individual season, Peters knows that there is still a lot more work to do.

“This off-season, I need to work as I did last season, even more so, and then come back in with the right attitude to keep developing," said Peters.

"I’m going to spend some time away with family, rest up a little bit, but then come straight back into it.

“Life is full of ups and downs, especially with football, which I know is such an opinionated sport.

“The confidence that Brentford have put their trust in me and given me the ability to work hard every single day with amazing staff and facilities is great."

“It’s helped me to become a much better player and I’m just always ready to give back and push on.”