Nigerian-born midfielder compared to Kante training with Arsenal first team

Published: March 25, 2021

Nigerian-born central midfielder Tim Akinola has been promoted to first team training by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

As many as twelve Arsenal first team players are currently on international duties with their respective nations, so to make up the numbers the Spanish football tactician invited some promising youth team players to train with the first team yesterday.

Akinola transferred to Arsenal from Huddersfield Town last summer and has been compared to Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante.

He was joined in the workout held at London Colney by another talented youngster of Nigerian descent in Folarin Balogun.

Akinola rubbed shoulders with the likes of Héctor Bellerín, Rob Holding, Gabriel, Willian, Alexandre Lacazette and Gabriel Martinelli during the training session supervised by Arteta.

The Anglo-Nigerian has been a very key player for Arsenal in the Premier League 2, featuring in all their matches with the exception of the 3-3 draw with Manchester United in October and figured in all their games in the EFL Trophy.

Akinola has often trained with the Arsenal first team but has yet to make a matchday squad for domestic competitions and he's ineligible to represent the north London club in the Europa League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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