Mikel Arteta calls up seven wonderkids to Arsenal training session ahead of Liverpool clash


Arsenal are one of several clubs that have been impacted by international call-ups.

The likes of Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, and Nicolas Pepe are due back later this week following their involvement in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers over the past fortnight.

Meanwhile, Cedric Soares, Martin Odegaard, Eddie Nketiah, Kieran Tierney, Bernd Leno, and Emile Smith Rowe will complete their international commitments over the next couple of days.

Whilst manager Mikel Arteta will be praying for his players to come back unscathed ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash against Liverpool, he has been presented with a chance to get a closer look at some of the club’s most promising players.

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As spotted in training on Tuesday afternoon, as many as seven wonderkids – as well as Trae Coyle, 20, and Tolaji Bola, 22, were called up by Arteta.

Those selected to train with the first-team were Nikolaj Moller, Folarin Balogun, Tim Akinola, Catalin Cirjan, Ryan Alebiosu, Miguel Azeez, and George Lewis.

For the youngsters, it was a chance to train alongside and pick up some tips from the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding, Gabriel Martinelli, Reiss Nelson, Willian, and Gabriel Magalhaes.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – MARCH 30: (L-R) Nikolaj Moller, Rob Holding and Dani Ceballos of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on March 30, 2021 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – MARCH 30: Tim Akinola of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on March 30, 2021 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – MARCH 30: (L-R) Flo Balogun and Rob Holding of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on March 30, 2021 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – MARCH 30: George Lewis of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on March 30, 2021 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

In addition, captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was spotted at London Colney after helping Gabon reach next year’s Africa Cup of Nations last week.

And the 31-year-old looks to be keeping his new hairstyle.

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There was no sighting of Bukayo Saka who withdrew from the England squad due to a hamstring injury and has remained with Arsenal in a bid to recover in time for the Liverpool match.

It had been hoped that the teenager would be fit for England’s match against Poland on Wednesday night but he was not deemed fully fit for the match at Wembley.

With more training sessions to follow this week, there’s every chance Saka will be involved in at least one before Arteta names his squad to face Liverpool.





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