Family is everything to Arsenal star Alex Song

Alex Song is a far cry from the average Premier League footballer.

His extraordinary background and family life means that flash cars, expensive jewellery and nightclubs are the last thing on his mind.

In fact, Song’s main motivation in his career is his family. And Song has a very large family but looks incredibly serious when he says he loves every single one of them.

Song, 22, is married to childhood sweetheart Olivia and they have two sons, Nolan, two and Kaylian, 11 months. But Song also has a staggering 17 sisters and 10 brothers.

Cameroon midfielder Song intends to look after and care for each and each one of them and be the father that he never had as a child growing up in Africa.

Song said: “People have said to me that I am too young to have two children at 22, but I am very happy and everything I do is for my family.

“I have 17 sisters and 10 brothers. I have a big family. But there are all very important to me. Every single one of them. I love them all.

“Twenty years ago Africa was very different. That’s what happened. That was my Dad and, to be honest, it is different to what I would like for my children.

“I pray to God to give thanks about what I have and how lucky I am. I can look after my family now here, in France and in Africa where it is very difficult.

“I’m happy here, very settled. It’s different now. I’m very happily married, I’ve got a lovely wife, two beautiful children and I’m not just a different player now but a different person as well. That gives me so much power.

“My family is so important to me. I was only three years old when my father died, I didn’t know him and that is why I am so determined to be there for my family.

“I was just 19 when I had my first boy. I didn’t have that love as a boy. When I was at school I saw my friends being picked up by their dads and that’s why when I step on to the pitch I give everything for them.

“That is what makes me happy now and makes me feel strong. It makes me proud to know that my son is watching me on the pitch. They are my motivation all of the time on the pitch.

“Every time I step on to the pitch at the Emirates, I just look up to where my wife and my son are sitting, wave to him and I do everything for my family. I want to give them all of my love because they make me strong.”

His inspiration as a boy growing up was his uncle Rigobert, the former Liverpool and West Ham defender, rather than his own father.

Song went to France as a teenager where he met his wife after joining Bastia which is where Arsene Wenger - now the most important influence on his blossoming career - spotted him, took a chance and signed him on loan four years ago.

But Song is now a fully fledged member of the Arsenal first team, coming through some difficult times during the early part of his career to now being one of the first names on the team sheet.

The game which really stands out as the low point for Arsenal was at Fulham three years ago when Song was substituted at half time as Wenger’s men lost at Craven Cottage.

Song is the first to admit that he had to improve from that point and was loaned out to Charlton two months later. But Song, from being rather unpopular with some Arsenal fans, has completely changed opinion around.

“I learned a lot from that game at Fulham,” said Song. “I was just 17 when I came to England, I didn’t speak English and I was alone here without a lot of family. Every day after training I would just go back to my hotel room.

“I’m very happy now, I’m a completely different player to what I was even two years ago. I have learnt from my mistakes and improved the whole time.

“The club, the fans and the boss have been great for me. From the first time I came here, the boss has helped me, told me to take my time on the training pitch, given me time to improve my game and he’s happy as well now with me.”

Song’s emergence as a regular in the first team and importance as the holding midfield player in a team which, under Wenger, is all about attack is confirmed by Arsenal supporters already fearful about him going to the African Nations Cup.

Song will be missing for around a month from January as he is also a key man for Cameroon and that will test Arsenal’s squad to the limit.

But there is no question in Song’s mind that he must do his duty for his country. There is also no doubt in his mind that Arsenal can win some silverware this season and put behind them four barren years.

Song added: “It is a lot of fun to play in this team. But we have to improve because it’s very important to us to do something very good this year.

“Last year we were so close. We missed in the semi final of the Champions League. But now we want to do it for the fans, the club and the players. We must give 100 per cent, give our best and make sure we have no regrets.

“I am so certain that we will win something. I am 100 per cent confident. We have to hope we don’t get too many injuries because last year we had a lot of players out and it was difficult.

“But we are older now, more mature and we’re more confident. When we have made mistakes in the past, we have learnt from them and we are stronger, older and better.

“We are still young as a team but we are close, friends and we go out together and we are strong. It’s a good atmosphere. We are very solid and together.

“We know that Manchester United and Chelsea are very strong. But we know that if we play at the top level then, on our day, we can beat anyone. I really believe that.

“If we are at our best, give everything then, trust me, we will win trophies. I know Chelsea and Manchester United are very good, very strong but we can do it.

“We know that once we win our first trophy then the others will follow. That will give us the belief to go on and win a lot more in the future.”

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