Arsenal train ahead of Champions League trip to PSV
Three Arsenal starlets have reportedly travelled with the senior squad for their Champions League tie with PSV on Tuesday evening. Reuell Walters, Lino Sousa and Ethan Nwaneri have all made the trip to the Netherlands, with the latter youngster coming off the back of a five-goal performance for the Gunners’ youth side.
The London Evening Standard claim that the young trio have all travelled to Eindhoven, though there is no guarantee that they will be named in either the starting line-up or among the substitutes. It is however an indication that the three could be involved as Gabriel Martinelli is likely to miss the group stage match through illness.
Bukayo Saka also missed training on Monday but is expected to travel with the team, as Mikel Arteta is also unable to call upon the injured group of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber – though Emile Smith Rowe has returned and could make his comeback from injury in the European dead-rubber.
Those unavailable players have opened the door for youngsters such as Walters, Sousa and Nwaneri to feature in the first team. Walters has been on the bench for Arsenal’s last two Premier League matches and is a very highly-rated defender by those at the club, but his contract is up at the end of the season.
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The 18-year-old could depart on a free transfer even though talks have been opened over a new deal, as the versatile defender could make his club debut against PSV. It would go some way to proving that there is a pathway for Walters at the Emirates, as the England youth international attracts interest from Arsenal’s rivals.
Nwaneri will be full of confidence and pushing to play against PSV, having recently scored five goals in Arsenal Under-18s’ 7-1 victory over Crewe in the FA Youth Cup. The 16-year-old became the Premier League’s youngest-ever player last season when he was substituted on in the victory away to Brentford last year.
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The midfielder has been tipped for a bright future and with a potential role alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard up for grabs this season, Nwaneri will hope to dazzle in Europe and leave a lasting impression on Arteta.
Sousa could feature at left-back against PSV as he continues to impress for the Under-21s, with Arteta likely to give some of his regular stars a rare rest in Europe.
Arsenal have won four out of their five Champions League matches and have already qualified for the knockout stages in first place, ensuring that the boss can name a weaker team in the Netherlands with the knowledge that a negative result will not hamper their goals in the competition.
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