His name is a headline writer's dream, although matching the global fame of the other Tom Cruise might prove a little difficult for Arsenal's England under-19 international.But then again, the left-back is used to people thinking Hollywood superstar whenever they see his name, and the Gunners' coaches are no different it seems.
"I have definitely had stick for it over the years," Cruise admits. "All the staff keep on coming up with names of the films he has starred in. But I just take it on the chin."
The 19-year-old from Islington, north London, has been picked by Arsene Wenger for just one first team fixture so far, but that wasn't exactly low profile as the Frenchman threw him straight into the deep end in the Champions League last season.
Admittedly, the Gunners had already made sure of qualification from Group H so there was little at stake but Cruise went on to complete all 90 minutes of a 1-0 defeat in Athens at the hands of Olympiacos.
"For me there is only one Tom Cruise and it is the one who plays for Arsenal Football Club," Wenger had declared before the game. "I don't care about headlines. Headlines or not, Tom Cruise will play at left back. "If you are in his boots, at the start of the season you would not think for a second that you will play in the Champions League. It is good for him to get an opportunity in these games. I would not like him to be under too much pressure. But I believe he is a very good footballer."
Cruise went on to sign a contract extension in February this year having graduated from the under-18s to the reserves following Kieran Gibbs's promotion to the first-team pool.
Cruise had featured at centre-back in earlier age group games but played every minute of Arsenal's winning 2008-09 Youth Cup campaign on the left of the defence during his first season as a professional.
The Arsenal youth coaches have high hopes for Cruise, regarding him as possessing the necessary work-rate, strength and clinical distribution to operate as a full-back in the Premier League.
If that comes to pass then expect a whole host of 'Top Gunner' headlines marking his exploits, although sadly so many of his English colleagues have also found gaining a regular first-team berth under the exacting Wenger to be a Mission Impossible.
