Arsenal manager promotes two 17-year-old Nigerians to first team training pre-Real Madrid

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta promoted two 17-year-old players of Nigerian descent to first team training on Tuesday, a day before the Gunners battle Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Bernabéu.

Josh Ogunnaike and Ife Ibrahim were among the academy players selected to train with the first team today at Arsenal Training centre in Colney, north of London.

Ibrahim and Ogunnaike started the 2024-2025 season as first-year scholars and have both trained with the first team on multiple occasions this term.

However, the two Golden Eaglets-eligible players have not yet received a call-up to the first team.

Ibrahim is a composed and versatile midfielder, effective in one-on-one situations and capable of operating as a fullback when needed

A powerful and attack-minded left-back, Ogunnaike excels in 1v1 defending and isn't afraid to drive forward.

With fullbacks Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Oleksandr Zinchenko, along with midfielders Martin Ødegaard, Ethan Nwaneri, Thomas Partey, and Declan Rice all spotted in today’s training session, the chances of Ogunnaike and Ibrahim being named in the traveling squad to the Spanish capital appear slim.

This season, Ogunnaike made his Premier League 2 debut, while Ibrahim featured in four FA Youth Cup matches and also made his UEFA Youth League debut.

Another academy player of Nigerian descent in the shape of Nathan Butler-Oyedeji also trained with the first team and it is a foregone conclusion that he will be named in the traveling squad to Madrid.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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