Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta ran the rule over talented Nigerian left-back Josh Ogunnaike ahead of his side's Premier League meeting with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The 17-year-old was spotted training with the likes of Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Noni Maduke during Friday's workout at Sobha Realty Training Centre.

An attack-minded fullback, Ogunnaike is in the second year of his scholarship at Arsenal, having joined the club at the age of thirteen. 

Although he has often been called up to first-team training, the powerful defender has yet to make his senior debut for the Gunners.

With Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jurriën Timber all involved in Friday's session, the prospect of Ogunnaike receiving his maiden first-team call-up appears unlikely.

This season, Ogunnaike made his full debuts in the UEFA Youth League and Premier League 2, and has also appeared for the young Gunners in the U18 Premier League, FA Youth Cup and EFL Trophy, registering one goal and three assists in twenty-six appearances.

Should he make his first-team debut against Tottenham Hotspur, the number 75 would be following in the footsteps of Nigerian duo Andre Harriman-Annous and Ife Ibrahim, members of Arsenal’s 2024–2025 scholarship intake who have already featured for the senior team.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: arsenal.com