Two Nigeria-Eligible Teenagers Named In Arsenal Travel Squad; Bola, Omole Also Trained

Published: December 11, 2019

Promising Nigerian midfielder James Olayinka is in line to make his professional debut for Arsenal when they take on Standard Liege in their final Europa League group game on Thursday, December 12, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The 19-year-old is confirmed to have traveled with the first team players to Belgium on Wednesday along with another Hale End Academy product of Nigerian origin, Bukayo Saka.

As earlier reported by this website, Saka and Olayinka took part in the Gunners final training session today, which suggested that they were under consideration for the trip to the Wallonia region.

Meanwhile, training pictures published by Arsenal on their official website, arsenal.com reveal that two other players of Nigerian descent were involved in the final workout at London Colney ahead of the trip to Belgium.

They are left-back Tolaji Bola and central defender Tobi Omole but the duo are unlikely to be named in the travel squad by interim manager Freddie Ljungberg as David Luiz, Calum Chambers and Sokratis Papastathopoulos were spotted boarding the plane to Liege.

Arsenal are in a strong position to qualify for the last 32 as they top Group F with ten points from five matches, one point more than second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt while Standard Liege, who have a negative goal difference, have seven points.

Tomorrow's game will kickoff at Stade Maurice Dufrasne at 1855 hours Nigerian time.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com