Team news: Nwaneri and Nichols with Arsenal first team ahead of PL clash against Leicester City

Teenage players of Nigerian descent Ethan Nwaneri and Josh Nichols have seemingly been named in Arsenal's provisional squad to face Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Arsenal youth team guru Jeorge Bird, citing a video posted by Football Insider's social media director Connor Humm, has confirmed that Nwaneri and Nichols are currently with the Gunners first team at their hotel, along with academy players Maldini Kacurri, Jack Porter and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Nwaneri and Nichols were not on U21 duties on Friday evening as the Gunners lost their perfect start to the Premier League 2 season after a 3-0 defeat suffered at the hands of Liverpool, fueling speculation they were still with the first team after the midweek game versus Bolton Wanderers. 

The two Anglo-Nigerian youngsters were handed their full debuts by manager Mikel Arteta in Arsenal's 5-1 drubbing of Bolton Wanderers in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, September 25.

Nwaneri was arguably the Man of the Match, scoring a brace in his first ever start for his boyhood club.

Nichols gave a good account of himself too and was involved in the buildup to the opening goal of the game in the 16th minute when Declan Rice placed the ball into the bottom corner after meeting a deflected cross from the defender. 

The fullback has never been called up for a Premier League game, whereas it would be a surprising if Nwaneri is not named in the gameday squad, given that he has been included in every squad announced by Arteta in the current season.

Nwaneri and Nichols have been registered on Arsenal's Premier League roster as U21 players. 

Meanwhile, Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi is expected to make a return to Leicester City's starting lineup after he was rested for the trip to Walsall four days ago.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: arsenal.com

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