By Farhan Devji/whitecapsfc.com
Learning from the likes of Tim Cahill, Louis Saha, and Phil Jagielka, striker
Cody Arnoux
has nothing but positive things to say about his experience with English Premier League side Everton FC last season.
But after signing with Vancouver Whitecaps FC last week, the Wilmington, North Carolina, native is happy to be back in North America. "I'm kind of a home body," Arnoux told whitecapsfc.com. "I know this is Canada, but I love the United States and I just wanted to be closer to home. I felt that with this opportunity, it was the right move for me to make."
Arnoux arrived in Vancouver for the first time late Friday night, and spent the following day sightseeing and walking along the waterfront. Less than a week later, he’s already sold on the city, which he hopes to call home, as the 'Caps move to Major League Soccer (MLS) next season. "I love it,” said Arnoux. "It’s just a beautiful place, especially when you wake up and it's 70 to 75 degrees (Fahrenheit) with no humidity. It's something I’m not really used to, but it’s amazing."
Though he could not be happier to be in Vancouver, Arnoux is not quick to forget his time playing professionally in England last season. As a member of the Everton reserves, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound striker made seven appearances and scored two goals in the English Premier Reserve League North.
Meet Cody Arnoux
But more so than playing with the reserve squad, Arnoux points to his time training with the Toffees first team, as his biggest learning experience. "It’s just amazing being around people like Cahill, Saha, and Jagielka, people that are professional to the tee and do everything right," said Arnoux, who trained with Everton's first team in the early stages of last season. "I learned a lot from those guys, so I wouldn’t trade it for anything."
Among all the big names he bumped shoulders with in training, Arnoux says he connected most with Jagielka, who was injured for much of last season. Arnoux, who had some injury troubles of his own, spent a lot of time in rehab with the 28-year-old English defender. "He was just a really good guy and didn’t treat anyone any differently," said Arnoux. "Not that any of them did, but he was just the one I spent the most time with. I really enjoyed that and learned a lot from him."
Before moving to Europe, Arnoux was a standout in NCAA Division I with Wake Forest University. In three seasons with the Demon Deacons, Arnoux scored 33 goals in 64 matches - including a team-high 17 goals and 42 points in his junior year - as he earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) First Team honours that season. It was also in his junior year that the striker was selected as a semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top NCAA men's soccer player.
But coming from college, Arnoux says he was not necessarily prepared for the professional ranks - at least not as much as he is now after picking up many fine details during his time with Everton. "I definitely learned a lot, especially coming from college when your eating and sleeping habits probably aren’t the best," said Arnoux. "Eating right, making sure they were fit in every aspect of their game, just stuff like that, which I think is very important."
Arnoux made his debut for Whitecaps FC only a day after he signed, as the Blue and White drew 1-1 with FC Tampa Bay last Thursday night. And while he looks forward to potentially making his home debut this weekend, the striker admits that he is "miles behind" the rest of the team, having not played competitively in a few months.
Even so, Arnoux is delighted with the way in which his new teammates have welcomed him into the 'Caps fold. "You come in with six games left and you don’t know what to expect or how the guys are going to react to you, but everyone has been really nice and really helpful so far," he said. "It’s a great group of guys and a great squad."
Spoken like a true professional.
