Arsenal's retained list: Awe turns down new deal, 9 players of Nigerian descent kept on 

The official website of the Premier League has published the players who have been kept on by Arsenal for the 2023-2024 season. 

It has come to light that Hale End Academy product Zach Awe turned down the offer of a contract extension at the Gunners as he wants to play first-team football next season rather than remaining with the development squad of the Londoners. 

Although Arsenal informed that Awe will be released upon the expiry of his contract on June 30, 2023, his name did not pop up on list of players officially released by Premier League clubs. 

The central defender received just one call-up for a first team game during his time at the Emirates Stadium and it came against Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 10, 2022 when he was a non-playing substitute. 

Meanwhile, nine players of Nigerian descent were retained by Arsenal including 2022 Nigeria's Olympic Eagles invitee Tim Akinola and 2023 Flying Eagles invitee Ovie Ejeheri.

The other players kept on are Ryan Alebiosu, Miguel Azeez, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Henry Davies, Brian Okonkwo, Arthur Okonkwo and Mazeed Ogungbo.

Although Akinola, Alebiosu and Arthur Okonkwo have been retained, their future at the Gunners is up in the air considering the fact that they are no longer classed as U21 players and will not be automatically included in the Premier League squad for 2023-2024.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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