Arsenal youngster Bless Akolbire handed opportunity by Mikel Arteta

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Arsenal youth prospect Bless Akolbire has recently been training with Mikel Arteta’s first team.

Mikel Arteta will currently be keeping a close eye on Bless Akolbire, as the youngster has been spotted training with the Arsenal first team prior to the club’s Champions League clash with Lens.

Akolbire is very unlikely to feature in the match against the French outfit, but this time spent working with the senior group still represents a huge opportunity for the 16-year-old to make a positive impression.

The teenage midfielder has earned this chance with his performances as part of Per Mertesacker’s Hale End academy setup. Akolbire has impressed when given the chance to play for the Arsenal under-18s side, and this has clearly been noted.

Handing opportunities to experience first team training to talented youngsters is a smart move for Arteta to make. It changes things up for the first team players, and will give the likes of Akolbire a huge boost to their confidence, as well as some invaluable experience. It also demonstrates the club’s commitment to developing their promising youngsters and showing that there is a pathway to playing for the senior side.

Akolbire targeting glory on the global stage

Akolbire himself has big ambitions for his future. The Ghanaian wants to make the grade at international and club level. He told the official Arsenal website, “I’d love to put on the famous Black Stars shirt and lead them to glory at an international tournament.”

He is also aiming to emulate an icon of African football. He has said, “I tried to model my game on Yaya Toure because he could do it all – pass, dribble, shoot and score. He was the ultimate, complete midfielder.”

If he can can hit anything close to the heights that the former Manchester City star reached in the game then Akolbire will have an incredible career. Arsenal will be hoping that he can explode and reach his full potential whilst still on the books at the Emirates Stadium.

There is obviously still a long way to go for the youngster, but training with the first team at this early stage suggests that he is on the right track.