Arsenal boss runs the rule over three Nigerian teenagers pre-Nottingham Forest

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta ran the rule over three Nigeria-eligible players ahead of their Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Brian Okonkwo, forward Andre Annous and centre-back Samuel Onyekachukwu were in training with the members of the first team on Wednesday at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.

With several first-team players yet to return from international duty, Arteta promoted some academy players to first-team training, including the Anglo-Nigerian starlets.

The 18-year-old Okonkwo has featured for the U21s this campaign, making four appearances in the Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy, , conceding seven goals in four games.

Annous, 16, has been in imperious form in the U18 Premier League, averaging a goal per game with five goals in five appearances.

This has led to the development team's coach, Mehmet Ali, and the U19s boss, Max Porter, to hand him his Premier League 2 and UEFA Youth League debuts..

Onyekachukwu is also with the U18s, having made six appearances in the U18 Premier League.

However, the 16-year-old has struggled to break into the starting lineup, starting only twice.

The trio have a chance to gain experience by training with the first team, but they are unlikely to feature on Saturday, as Arteta needs to turn his side's fortunes around to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool.

The North London side has won just one of their last five Premier League games and is now nine points behind table toppers Liverpool. 

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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