Currently on scholarship forms, Phillips took a plunge and decided to leave West Ham convinced there was little chance of a first team breakthrough.
He wrote for arsenal.com: "Towards the end of my time at West Ham, I felt like I wasn't getting the opportunities to step up to under-18s level and really test myself. I went on trial at Southampton and Wolves, and there was also interest from Arsenal.
"I had a two-week trial (at Arsenal), felt I performed well, and ended up signing at under-15 level, which was an incredible feeling. It also helped that I already knew Josiah King from our time at Globe Rangers, so that made the transition easier.
"Since joining Arsenal, things have been really positive. I've had the chance to travel to Brazil for the Flamengo Adidas Cup, which was an unforgettable experience.
"I've also had opportunities to train with the first team, which has been eye-opening. The tempo is very high, and Declan Rice really stood out to me in training. His technique is top-level, and he sets such a high standard. It was interesting because I had watched him play for West Ham under-21s when I was there."