Arsenal coach promotes four Nigerian players to first team training pre-Shakhtar Donetsk

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta promoted at least four academy players of Nigerian descent to first-team training on the eve of their UEFA Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, allnigeriasoccer.com reports. 

Zacariah Shuaib, Ethan Nwaneri, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Brian Okonkwo took part in Monday's training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre in Shenley, north of London. 

The aforementioned players of Nigerian descent are eligible to represent the Gunners in the UEFA Champions League as they have all been named on the B list.

All players on the B list must meet the criteria of being born after January 1, 2003 and of having spent a minimum of two consecutive years at the club, three in the case of a loan to a club in the same association for a period of not more than a year. 

Butler-Oyedeji and Nwaneri were non-playing substitutes in Arsenal's first two matches of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League, against Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain.

Nwaneri has been named in every matchday squad announced by Arteta in the ongoing season, eleven in total, and played in four matches including his full debut in the third round of the Carabao Cup against Bolton Wanderers. 

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Spanish football tactician highlighted that he has to be cautious with Nwaneri and avoid rushing his development with the club. 

Butler-Oyedeji, Nwaneri, Okonkwo, and Shuaib have been given the numbers 37, 53, 55 and 80 respectively, for the Champions League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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