Arteta promotes three attack-minded teenagers of Nigerian descent to Arsenal first team training 

Arsenal stepped up their preparations for their Premier League meeting with Brighton & Hove with a training session at London Colney on Thursday, December 29.

Spanish football tactician Mikel Arteta promoted three promising teenagers of Nigerian descent to first team training before the trip to the Seagulls. 

Attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, 15, and striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji ,19, were spotted in the training images from today's workout. 

Arsenal youth team guru Jeorge Bird has reported on his website that the 19-year-old Dutch-born Nigerian winger Joel Ideho was also involved in the session. 

With the exception of Ideho, the aforementioned players of Nigerian descent traveled with the first team to a warm weather training camp in the United Arab Emirates this month, and were utilized in the friendlies with Lyon and AC Milan. 

Arteta will not be able to call upon the injured Gabriel Jesus against Brighton & Hove, while Emile Smith Rowe is unlikely to feature as he has been out of action since September. 

Nwaneri is a similar kind of player to Emile Smith Rowe in terms of being able to play on the wing and midfield. 

Ideho and Butler-Oyedeji have yet to receive their first call ups to Arsenal's senior team. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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