Arsenal star Declan Rice is a doubt for the game against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League.
The England international is one of the first names on the team sheet every week under Mikel Arteta, and he has had a fine season so far.
However, during the win over Chelsea, Rice asked to be substituted due to a potential injury, and his availability for Wednesday night’s game remains unclear.
In training on Tuesday, Arteta called up Ife Ibrahim and Demiane Agustien from the academy, with the former a potential option to replace Rice in the matchday squad.
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Ife Ibrahim trains with the Arsenal first-team ahead of Brighton clash
The Arsenal academy has come to Arteta’s rescue numerous times already.
Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe helped save his job early on, while the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman have all produced magical moments.
Arteta has given senior opportunities to a few other young players as well, one of them being young Ibrahim.
The 18-year-old made his first-team debut in the win against Kairat Almaty in the Champions League earlier this year.
Ibrahim has been outstanding for the academy sides recently, and with a question mark on Rice’s availability, the youngster and a few others were called up to train with the first team at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
In his press conference on Tuesday, Arteta claimed that Rice was much better but refused to confirm whether he would be fit enough to play against Brighton.
If he has to be left out of the squad, the Arsenal manager may well turn to Ibrahim to fill the bench. Either Christian Norgaard or Myles Lewis-Skelly could get the nod to start in Rice’s position.
It remains to be seen if Ibrahim will get any minutes on the pitch if Rice is indeed ruled out of the game against Brighton.
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Ife Ibrahim could be the next big Arsenal star to come out of Hale End
Ibrahim has all the characteristics to be a superstar in the making.
The Arsenal teenager is naturally a defensive midfielder, but he is more than capable of playing in a box-to-box role and also at centre-half if required.
Ibrahim is good on the ball, has incredible awareness for his age, and doesn’t seem to be bothered by opposition players pressing him.
The academy star’s composure on the ball is one of his best traits, but he is capable of a lot more. Some of his line-breaking passes this season have been a joy to watch.
Ibrahim is not a like-for-like replacement for Rice, but he can do a job – not just against Brighton for a few minutes in the Premier League clash on Wednesday but in the coming years as well.
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