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Mikel Arteta has called up 17-year-old Hale End striker to first-team training after injury crisis

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Arsenal take on West Ham United in the Premier League next, and Mikel Arteta is short of attacking options.

The Gunners have had so many injury issues this season. There hasn’t been a game yet in this campaign where Mikel Arteta has had a fully fit squad available at his disposal.

Arsenal’s attack has been hit badly recently. Bukayo Saka has been out since December, while Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have suffered season-ending injuries. Gabriel Martinelli is out injured too.

Arteta had to turn to Mikel Merino to save the day against Leicester City in the last game, but it’s unlikely that he will be able to do that every time over the next few weeks.

The Arsenal manager may have to turn to the academy for some help, and one hugely talented young player has received a call-up to a senior training session.

Andre Harriman-Annous spotted in Arsenal first-team training

Andre Harriman-Annous is one of Arsenal’s most talented young players.

The 17-year-old has been a Gunner for several years now. He joined the Arsenal Academy when he was around eight years old and has come through the ranks at Hale End.

Harriman-Annous is very versatile. He can play on the wings, as an attacking midfielder and also as a number eight.

But, most of the youngster’s appearances this season have come as a striker, and he has impressed massively for Arsenal’s youth teams.

2024/25GamesGoalsAssists
Andre Harriman-Annous starting as a striker1070
Andre Harriman-Annous starting as a left-winger640
Andre Harriman-Annous starting as a right-winger212
(Correct as of February 18, 2025)

That must have caught Arteta’s eye, who oversaw Harriman-Annous in senior training on Tuesday ahead of the game against West Ham United.

With Havertz and Jesus both out injured and Raheem Sterling struggling to make an impact, a spot could open up in the first-team for a youngster.

If Harriman-Annous continues to impress, he could be that guy in the very near future!

Arsenal Training Session
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Four other Arsenal Academy players were spotted in first-team training

Harriman-Annous is the most exciting youngster we spotted in Arsenal training on Tuesday, but he wasn’t the only one at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.

Fellow attacker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji continued to train with the first team. The forward has been on Arsenal’s bench on several occasions this season and even made his debut in the Champions League.

Ismael Kabia, who Arteta said will get opportunities, also trained with the senior players on Tuesday night, and he could make the squad against West Ham on Saturday.

Defenders Josh Nichols and Josh Ogunnaike were also seen training under the watchful eyes of Arteta on Tuesday.