English Premier League giants Arsenal Football Club have announced that they will host the inaugural Arsenal Summer Soccer Academies USA program in summer 2009 in Colorado. Trained Arsenal coaches will travel from the UK over to the United States to lead the five-day co-ed intensive programs for 11-16 year olds, teaching young players how to 'Play the Arsenal Way'.

The Summer Soccer Academies will be the first official Gunners program to take place in the United States and will focus on developing individual player skills with sessions consisting of technical and tactical player development, as well as nutritional and physiological advice to increase fitness levels.

Run Monday to Friday from June 28 to July 17, 2009 in three separate North American regions (Colorado, Massachusetts and Georgia), residential and day camp options will be available.

The program is being lead by ex-Arsenal player and ex-FC Dallas Head Coach Steve Morrow. Morrow, who took the role of International Partnership Performance Coordinator at Arsenal in 2008, commented: "The U.S. has one of the most competitive youth soccer markets in the world and there is an incredibly high standard of soccer coaches and programs available. However, Arsenal Soccer Schools' 20 years of experience has enabled us to establish one of the leading soccer educational programs worldwide."