Arsenal are set to face West Ham United in the Carabao Cup tonight, and may use this opportunity to give some of the top academy graduates significant game time.
Mikel Arteta handed youngster Charles Sagoe Jr a surprise start in the last round as Arsenal beat Brentford, and he could be tempted to do the same with more of Hale End’s elite talents.
Whilst West Ham will be a tough test, Arteta may not want to risk the likes of William Saliba, Martin Odegaard or Bukayo Saka, ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle.
Academy stars train with Arsenal first-team
Training photos released ahead of the game have now shown that four of Arsenal’s best academy talents have been training with the first team, and could be in line to appear in the squad tonight.
Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Amario Cozier-Duberry and Reuell Walters have all been spotted in training, and they are four of the highest-rated talents at the club.
In addition to these four key prospects, Bradley Ibrahim, Khayon Edwards and Jimi Gower were also training with the main squad.
Nwaneri has already made his first-team debut, as he became the youngest-ever Premier League player against Brentford last year, and Walters has featured heavily in pre-season. Cozier-Duberry is also set to be offered a new deal to fend off interest from elsewhere.
Which academy star could appear tonight?
Given that Bukayo Saka has recently struggled with injury, he could be rested tonight with Cozier-Duberry making an appearance on the right-wing much like Sagoe Jr did in the previous round.
Arteta has hinted that Declan Rice may start against his former side, meaning that Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are unlikely to make the starting XI in midfield.
Walters has an excellent chance of featuring, either at full-back or in the middle of defence. Jakub Kiwior started ahead of Gabriel Magalhaes in Saturday’s victory over Sheffield United, but Saliba and Ben White could both be rested, and Walters would be competing with out-of-favour veteran Cedric Soares for a starting spot tonight.
Arteta will likely aim to find a balance between playing a strong side and giving the youth a chance, and even if these top prospects do not start, they will be vying for a place on the bench and a potential substitute appearance.
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