Arsenal coach promotes versatile 16yo Nigerian forward to first team training pre-Southampton

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta promoted several academy players to first team training before Saturday's Premier League meeting with Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in London.

According to Arsenal youth team insider Jeorge Bird, Andre Harriman-Annous was among the Hale End Academy products invited to train with the Gunners first team at Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday.

The 16-year-old Nigerian, who is comfortable playing across the front three and can also be deployed in midfield, has made a blistering start to the new season, registering six goals and two assists in five all-competition appearances for the youth teams.

His impressive performances have not gone unnoticed, with Arteta promoting him to first team training on the eve of the clash with Southampton.

A week ago, Annous netted his first hat-trick in the U18 Premier League in a six-goal thriller against Brighton & Hove and enhanced his burgeoning reputation as one of the brightest young players at the academy by scoring on his UEFA Youth League debut against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.

The first year scholar trained alongside Arsenal first team forwards Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.

History-making attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri was also involved in the workout and is surely in contention to be named in the matchday 20, given that he has been called up for all the matches played by the first team in the new season, nine in total.

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, an unused substitute in the 2-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain, was seen training with the first teamers on Friday.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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