Arsenal go into the clash with Inter Milan this week knowing that the pressure is off in the Champions League thanks to their brilliant form in the competition so far.
The Gunners, will ease into the knockout stages and Mikel Arteta will know deep down that he can use the games coming up to rotate his squad accordingly.
Quite how far Arteta will go with that rotation, only he knows. He will, of course, be keen to keep winning and ensure his team keeps in good habits.
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However, there is also a chance for Arteta to get a good look at a few younger players as well and looking at the latest training images ahead of facing Inter, it seems a few youngsters might be sniffing around the squad.
Josh Nichols and Theo Julienne part of Arsenal training before Inter Milan
Mikel Arteta is not averse to letting the young players get in and around the first-team and we’ve seen countless youngsters over the last few seasons get involved in games too.
Ahead the facing Inter, Arteta might well be thinking that a few of his young players could be in or around the squad for the game.
Indeed, looking at the latest images released on Getty ahead of the game, both Josh Nichols and Theo Julienne are included.
The teenage duo – 18 and 19 respectively – have already been around first-team proceedings before and it’s interesting to see them both involved today.
Whether or not they get the nod for the squad, of course, is another matter.
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What the Arsenal website says about Josh Nichols and Theo Julienne
The Gunners are very well stocked in the youth area and while we all know not every single player will make the first-team, it’s good to see so many around.
In terms of Nichol and Julienne, they’ve been here before and are obviously getting a good taste of what it might require to succeed.
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The Gunners’ official website is complimentary of the pair, too, suggesting both can play right-back, which is something else to note.
“Equally effective whether starting at right back or in his favoured midfield role, Theo continues to impress and signed his first contract with us upon turning 17 in January 2025. He originally joined us following a successful trial after the Covid pandemic, and has made rapid progress ever since,” it says of Julienne.
“The west London born youngster made 17 appearances for the under-18s in 2024/25, and made his under-21s debut towards the start of the campaign, in the north London derby.
“He is an England youth international, having represented the national team at under-16 level.”
Nichols, meanwhile, has been with the club a decade already.
“A long-serving member of our academy, Josh had his first taste of senior football in 2024/2, making his debut in the Carabao Cup win over Bolton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium in September. The classy right back played the full 90 minutes of the 5-1 win, showing great calmness and composure on the big stage.
An Arsenal player from the age of nine, he has travelled with the first-team squad for each of the past two pre- season tours. He played twice in the EFL Trophy last season, as well as 10 times in Premier League 2.”
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