Match Coverage

Who are the six Arsenal wonderkids named on the bench for Atalanta Champions League clash?

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Arsenal have travelled to Bergamo to face Atalanta in the Champions League, and several academy stars have made the trip.

A number of first-teamers are missing, with Martin Odegaard suffering a long-term injury, whilst defenders Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are yet to return.

Mikel Arteta has had to bring several youngsters with him to fill up the bench, and Ethan Nwaneri will be hoping to come on as a substitute, following calls to include him in the starting XI.

Atalanta will prove a stern test, so Nwaneri may be the only youngster called upon, but the experience of being in the matchday squad will be invaluable for these talented youth players.

Whilst Arsenal fans are very familiar with Nwaneri, some of the other names are lesser-known, with some only making the squad for the first time.

Atalanta BC v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Who is Jack Porter?

Porter is a 16-year-old goalkeeper who is very highly rated within Arsenal, and having trained with the team earlier this week, he is on the bench ahead of summer signing Tommy Setford.

Who is Ethan Nwaneri?

Nwaneri is arguably the biggest talent in the Hale End Academy, and some may have expected him to start in the absence of Odegaard.

However, Arteta knows the risks of starting teenagers in the Champions League, and he has had to settle for a place on the bench.

Who is Jimi Gower?

Jimi Gower is a 19-year-old midfielder who has been part of the upper academy sides since 2020, and he has reportedly been “monitored” by Arsenal for some time.

Who is Myles Lewis-Skelly?

Myles Lewis-Skelly is a midfielder who has also impressed as an inverted left-back, and he caught the eye alongside the first-team in pre-season.

Who is Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand?

Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, known as Salah, is another midfielder who impressed alongside the first-team during pre-season and is finding his feet within the academy after some injury trouble on several loan spells in the past.

Who is Nathan Butler-Oyedeji?

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji just won the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award after a lightning start to the season, in which he registered six goals and assists in just three games.

The winger fully deserves his place in the squad, and if he continues his form, he could even push for some minutes in the Carabao Cup later this month.