Teenage Nigerian Midfielder Training With Arsenal First Team This Week

Published: November 15, 2019

Nigerian midfielder James Olayinka has been training with Arsenal first team this week, according to Gunners youth-team guru Jeorge Bird.

Aged 19, Olayinka is among four youngsters promoted to first team training by manager Unai Emery, the others being Matt Smith, Nathan Tormey and Jordan Mceneff.

With eleven Arsenal first-teamers called up by their respective countries for international matches this month, the Spanish football tactician has invited some of the outstanding young talents at the club to make up the numbers.

Olayinka has trained with the Gunners first team before and was part of the traveling party to the United States ahead of the start of the 2019-2020 season.

The central midfielder started pre-season games against Colorado Rapids and Fiorentina, before making a cameo appearance against Angers SCO upon the team's return to Europe.

The fact that he was selected to take part in the first team's photocall in August suggests that he is close to making his professional debut.

The promising midfielder has played three matches for Arsenal's youth teams this term due to injury.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : arsenal.com