Albion loan star Jay Simpson was just eight when he came face-to-face with his hero.

Ian Wright did not disappoint and since their mid-90s meeting Simpson has dreamed of emulating the Arsenal goalscoring legend.

Now the 20-year-old’s quest for Gunners stardom has brought him to Albion. While keeping the Baggies in the Premier League is motivation enough for Simpson, the likable north London boy is not ready to give up on his ambitions at the Emirates Stadium.

Simpson might have been raised in Tottenham with Spurs-supporting father, Jeff, but Arsenal was always the club for him.

He said: “I was eight when I joined Arsenal. When I was young I didn’t really think of it as such a big thing. I just wanted to play football and enjoy myself.

“As you work over the years and go through the age groups, you begin to realise there is potential to make a career out of it and have it as a job. When I was young all my friends wanted to be footballers and I got the chance, which I am trying to take.

“I grew up in Tottenham and my dad’s a Spurs fan but I was always an Arsenal fan I used to play for Norwich and then Roy Massey, who was Academy director at the time, was offered a job at Arsenal.

“The new guy who came in let all of us go and Roy took me down to Arsenal, where I have been ever since.”

Simpson’s first visit to Highbury as a member of the Arsenal academy brought him a meeting with Wright.

Having watched the legendary goalscorer from afar, the meeting had a profound effect on the youngster. The pair have remained in contact ever since and it was on Wright’s radio show that Simpson let the cat out of the bag about his loan move to the Hawthorns.

Yet there was no shortage of other role models for Simpson to choose from, as he progressed along Arsene Wenger’s famed production line of young talent.

The young forward said: “I was a massive Ian Wright fan and I still admire him. I met him at my first Arsenal game at Highbury years ago, which was a big thing for me.

“I haven’t met up with him recently but I’ve spoken to him and he’s been following my career, which is good to know.

“But when I was a youngster Thierry Henry was there with people like Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and the great defenders like Tony Adams and Steve Bould.

“When I was coming through and left school Steve was the coach, so for me to go from watching them to being in his team was a big thing.

“From time to time we trained with the first team but we were working in the same building, so we would see them and they would often stop and talk to us.

“They would often ask how we were getting on – there was a lot of support and interest for them. For any youngster who watches the game it’s a big thing, when you’ve got the professionals who you see on TV taking an interest in you.”

Now Simpson has left the Emirates Stadium for the second time in as many seasons to further his footballing education.

He admits his switch to Millwall last season forced him to question whether his long-term future could be away from the Gunners.

But he arrived at Albion this month with renewed hope of an Arsenal future, having penned a new two-and-a-half-year contract with the club just days before leaving for the rest of the season.

He said: “When I went to Millwall last year, I don’t think many people expected me to do well and I surprised a few. This year I have got another task to try to keep West Brom up.

“If I can do that and develop myself as well, that should make me a stronger person so I can go back to Arsenal in a strong position.

“The manager wants me to go back to Arsenal. I signed a two-and-half-year extension to my contract before I came here, so I think I can be in Arsene Wenger’s plans.

“This year I had my chance in the Carling Cup, I believe I took it and repayed his faith.

“He’s given me a real lifeline at the club. When I was at Millwall I thought about the clubs I could end up there permanently but I wanted to go back to Arsenal.

“I knew I’d have to be flying in pre-season, which I did. Now the manager’s shown belief in me to send me out to get experience.

“Right now I’m a West Brom player and that’s what I’m concentrating on.”

The next phase of Simpson’s mission to keep Albion in the top flight is a high-profile clash with Manchester United at the Hawthorns on Tuesday.

The young hitman is relishing his own meeting with United defensive rock Nemanja Vidic, after being inspired by a former Arsenal team mate.

Simpson said: “I watched them against Southampton and my mate Ryan Smith gave him a hard time. Hopefully I can get at him by turning and running at him.

“When people run and turn him he doesn’t always cope well. I have always wanted to test myself against the best.”