Arsenal manager promotes 16yo midfielder to first team training pre-Manchester City 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta promoted history-making midfielder of Nigerian descent Ethan Nwaneri to first team training on Saturday, on the eve of their Community Shield clash versus Premier League champions Manchester City at the National Stadium in England. 

The 16-year-old was spotted training with the first team players at London Colney on Saturday, and it remains to be seen whether or not the first year scholar will be named in the gameday squad against the Citizens. 

In preparation for the new season, Nwaneri participated in Arsenal's first two friendly matches against Watford and Nurnberg but was left out of the traveling squad for the tour of the United States. 

The attacking midfielder missed the matches with MLS All-Stars, Manchester United, Barcelona and Monaco. 

Nwaneri will fancy his chances of forcing his way into the squad, with Brazilian attacker Gabriel Jesus not available for selection due to a knee problem, while two other attack-minded players in  Reiss Nelson and Folarin Balogun are rated as doubtful. 

The England youth international ended speculation about his future by signing scholarship forms with Arsenal this summer and agreed to a professional deal for when he turns 17 in March 2024.

If selected in the squad to face Manchester City, Nwaneri will be hoping to emulate Alex Iwobi and Nwankwo Kanu who won the Community Shield as Arsenal players. 

Igho Kingsley

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