Former Arsenal star admits Malaysian heritage

Joshua Robison, ex-Arsenal defender, attracted attention by revealing his Malaysian bloodline from his mother.

Joshua Noah Robison recently surprised many by disclosing his Malaysian ancestry. The former right-back of Arsenal’s youth team shared this in an interview published on the official “Gunners” website before his transfer to Wigan Athletic in January this year.

Robison, born in England, has a Jamaican father while his mother is of mixed Malaysian and English descent. This multicultural background has shaped Robison’s character and playing style to be strong, agile, and creatively versatile. “I grew up in Leyton, East London. My dad is Jamaican, and my mum has Malaysian-English heritage”, Robison revealed.

Joining Arsenal’s academy at a very young age, Robison developed rapidly under the guidance of coaches at the renowned Hale End Academy. He was even given the chance by coach Mikel Arteta to train with the first team and was listed as a backup for the 2024–2025 Champions League squad, a proud achievement for a young player.

Although he has yet to make an official first-team appearance for Arsenal, Robison is regarded as a promising defender with solid defensive skills and impressive speed. Therefore, his move from Emirates to Wigan Athletic to seek more regular playing time is seen as a sensible step in his career development.

However, after his contract with Wigan ended mid-2025, Robison is currently a free agent. While he has not signed with any club yet, he continues training to stay ready for the next opportunity. Experts in England believe he could attract interest from Championship clubs or even teams in Asia, where his Malaysian heritage might serve as an intriguing link.

Robison’s revelation also caught attention in Malaysia, where many football fans expressed excitement upon learning that a former Arsenal player has roots in their Southeast Asian country.

Some opinions suggest that if eligible, Robison might be invited to play for Malaysia’s national team in the future, similar to other naturalized players.