Two teenagers of Nigerian descent rub shoulders with AFCON veteran in Arsenal first team training session 

Arsenal continued their preparations for the London derby against West Ham United with a training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre in London Colney on Friday. with two teenagers of Nigerian descent involved in the workout. 

Arsenal first team manager Mikel Arteta promoted England U17 international of Nigerian descent Ethan Nwaneri and 2023 Egypt U19 invitee with a Nigerian background, Cam'ron Ismail to first team training two days before the trip to the London Stadium. 

Nwaneri and Ismail trained with Mohamed Elneny, a veteran of four Africa Cup of Nations, who is back in the English capital after representing Egypt at the 2023 AFCON. 

Experienced midfielder Elneny returned from the Africa Cup of Nations early after record champions Egypt  were knocked out in the round of 16 by Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Nwaneri and Ismail were not on U21 duties on Friday night as Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United in a Premier League 2 clash at Meadow Park. 

The attacking midfielder was a non-playing substitute against West Ham in the Premier League on December 28 while the left-back has yet to receive a call-up for a first team game since joining Arsenal in September 2021.

Ismail started the 2023-2024 season as a first year scholar and is now eligible to sign a professional contract with Arsenal while Nwaneri will go pro next month when he turns 17.

Against the Hammers, Arsenal are aiming to win their fourth game in a row at the start of a calendar year for the first time since 1935.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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