20-Year-Old Nigerian Left-Back Inching Closer To Arsenal Debut, 19th Man Vs Bournemouth

Published: December 27, 2019

Nigeria-eligible left-back Tolaji Bola is inching closer to making his first-team debut for English Premier League side Arsenal, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Arsenal youth team expert Jeorge Bird has confirmed that the Hale End Academy product traveled with the first team to the South Coast for yesterday's clash against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Although Bola was included in the provisional squad by head coach Mikel Arteta, he only made it as the nineteenth man, meaning he would have made the matchday 18 if a player suddenly developed illness or picked up an injury in the pre-match warm-up.

The 20-year-old was spotted training with Arsenal's first team in the days leading up to the trip to BH7 7AF.

The Gunners faced a defensive crisis going into the festive programme, with Héctor Bellerín, Sead Kolašinac and Kieran Tierney all recovering from injuries.

Originally a central defender, Bola was converted to a left-back when he joined Arsenal.

This season, he has started ten games in the Premier League 2 and also appeared in the EFL Trophy.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com

Copyright ANS.

OPERA NEWS be guided. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com