5 Arsenal youth players join first-team training ahead of Spurs clash | OneFootball

Five Arsenal youth players trained with the first team ahead of the Gunners trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend.

Myles Lewis-Skelly in training with the Arsenal first team (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Arsenal have been going through their final preparations for Sunday’s north London derby match away to Tottenham Hotspur, and a number of academy players were involved in their training session on Friday.

Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Michal Rosiak, Ayden Heaven, and Maldini Kacurri could all be seen taking part in the senior session ahead of the game, with a high likelihood that at least a few of them will be involved in Sunday’s squad.

Against Brighton, Tommy Setford, Lewis-Skelly, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, and Nwaneri were all named on the bench for the Gunners. Oulad M’Hand is another one who has spent time in first-team training this week.

Ayden Heaven in training with the Arsenal first team (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Arsenal have a number of injury complaints ahead of the derby, with Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney all seemingly ruled out, and Riccardo Calafiori a strong doubt.

Declan Rice is also suspended, though Gabriel Jesus is tipped to return to the squad after his recent injury, so that’s one positive.

The Premier League squad lists were confirmed this week, and from Arsenal’s 22-player list, at least five are expected to miss this match. Probably six, if Calafiori is out.

That would leave Arsenal with 16 senior players to fill their 20-man matchday squad.

Ethan Nwaneri in training with Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Given the likely absence of Merino, Odegaard, and Rice, Arsenal will probably prioritise midfield call-ups. Nwaneri, Oulad M’Hand, and Lewis-Skelly would make sense, with Lewis-Skelly also capable of playing at left-back to cover for all the injuries there.

If Calafiori is out, Arsenal will want another centre-back, so Heaven should take the final spot in that scenario.

Kacurri is also a centre-back, but he’s probably behind Heaven in the pecking order. Rosiak is a right-back, so it’s not impossible he could be used as cover in that position, but Arteta has Ben White and Jurrien Timber available to play the position.