Arsenal’s upcoming Carabao Cup clash against West Ham is the perfect opportunity for Mikel Arteta to rest some of his regulars and hand out opportunities to Hale End’s most promising young stars. Here, Express Sport takes a look at four academy standouts who could get some senior minutes under their belts on Wednesday.
Ethan Nwaneri
Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history last season when Arteta brought him on as a stoppage-time substitute against Brentford at the age of 15 years and 181 days. He has had to stay patient for further first-team opportunities but could be given the nod against West Ham after continuing to impress for Arsenal’s under-21s and England’s under-17s.
Multiple top European clubs including Chelsea and Manchester City were interested in snapping him up this summer as his schoolboy terms came to an end but the youngster opted to stay at his boyhood club. Nwaneri put pen to paper on a new scholarship deal in June with an agreement for a professional contract to be signed upon his seventeenth birthday on March 21 2024
Charles Sagoe Jr
Charles Sagoe Jr played in Arsenal’s last Carabao Cup tie against Brentford so it would make sense for him to be in and around the squad ahead of the Gunner’s trip to London Stadium. The 19-year-old demonstrated excellent technical ability during the game but failed to make much of an impact. Most of his shortcomings were due to a lack of familiarity with the senior players which he will only improve upon with more game time.
Reuell Walters
Reuell Walters is Hale End’s most promising defender. The 18-year-old centre-back is yet to make his senior debut for the club but has been named on the bench eight times in competitive fixtures.
He impressed during a pre-season appearance against Nurnberg for Arsenal and could play on Wednesday as Arteta contemplates resting his formidable defensive partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magahales. Walters can also play at right-back so will have three spaces open to him this week if Arteta chooses to call him up.
Amario Cozier-Duberry
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are likely to be given a well-earned rest against West Ham having played in the majority of the north Londoners fixtures so far this season. Leandro Trossard and Reiss Nelson are the most likely to start down the flanks against the Hammers but Amario Cozier-Duberry would be next in line in the pecking order.
The inclusion of Cozier-Duberry and Sagoe Jr on the bench would allow Martinelli and Saka to have a full night off ahead of a hectic schedule that includes matches against Newcastle, Sevilla and Burnley over a seven-day period.
