Arsenal icon Wright urges Arteta to promote two teenagers of Nigerian descent to first team

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has urged manager Mikel Arteta to promote two teenagers of Nigerian descent Miguel Azeez and Folarin Balogun to the first team ahead of next season.

The Spanish football tactician has invited the aforementioned Anglo-Nigerian players to train with the first team several times this season but has yet to hand them their debuts in the Premier League.

Arsenal have been seen as a perfect surrounding for young players to hone their skills, with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe breaking into the first team after rising through the academy ranks.

Wright believes Balogun and Azeez, who have been shining in the academy, will show the fans what they are capable of if they are given game time by Arteta in the remaining three games of the season.

"I know we had a big game in the U23s the other day. People like (Miguel) Azeez, people like Folarin Balogun, I'd like to see them in the matchday squads now," Wright said on Premier League Productions.

"I think the fans would like to see something like that so that it can give them a little bit of lift for what may be coming because now you look at the moment where's the signings going to come from.

"Is it going to have to be more youngsters and if the youngsters are coming in, these are the games maybe where you'd like to think that they should have been at least in the matchday squad to maybe get 10, 15 minutes to have a look at them".

Balogun has recorded six appearances for Arsenal's first team, with five of them coming in the Europa League, while Azeez has played just once for the Gunners this term.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel