Six more Hale End starlets join Arsenal training before Fleetwood tie
Mikel Arteta has given another batch of Arsenal's academy prospects a taste of first team life, calling up six Hale End youngsters to train at the Sobha Realty Training Ground ahead of Tuesday's Carabao Cup clash with Fleetwood Town.
According to football.london, Andre Harriman-Annous, Ceadach O'Neill, Marcell Washington, Theo Julienne, Igor Tyjon and Ife Ibrahim all trained with the senior squad, joining the likes of Max Dowman and Marli Salmon who have already been fixtures around the first team this season. Arsenal host Fleetwood at Highbury on Tuesday night, chasing a competition they lost in last season's final against Manchester City.
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Despite the inclusion, most of the six are unlikely to feature against the League Two side. The under-21s are due to play AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy on the same night, the final group game of the competition, with Arsenal needing just a draw to reach the knockout stages provided Leyton Orient do not beat Barnet.
Gabriel and Calafiori both missing
Two senior names were notably absent from the latest training pictures. Gabriel Magalhaes did not appear to have picked up any injury over the weekend during Arsenal's win over Everton, and his absence looks more like a planned rest ahead of a busy run of fixtures.
Riccardo Calafiori's absence carries more significance. The Italian had started each of Arsenal's previous seven Premier League games before being left out of the starting lineup against Everton, a decision that raised some eyebrows given his recent run of form.
Calafiori was introduced from the bench in the second half but appeared to pick up a knock, spending much of stoppage time further forward while Noni Madueke dropped into left back. He went straight down the tunnel at full time.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Arteta confirmed the defender had suffered a minor issue. “Yeah, I wasn't that mad to change those two from their positions. It was because he had a slight issue; we don't know what it is. It seems to be something very small, but he was cautious about it,” the Arsenal boss said.
The exact nature of the problem remains unclear, and Calafiori's absence from training this week will do little to settle any concern before Tuesday's visit of Fleetwood.
Rice and Bruno in good spirits
Elsewhere, the mood around the training ground appeared relaxed. Declan Rice and Bruno Guimaraes were pictured celebrating after winning a game of football beachball against Harriman-Annous and O'Neill, a reminder that for most of the squad, preparations for Fleetwood have been routine.
Arsenal will be strong favourites against their League Two opponents, but Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor has urged his players to embrace rather than fear the occasion, telling BBC Radio Lancashire that respect for the champions should not tip into intimidation. Clarity on Calafiori's fitness is likely to emerge closer to kick off.
