Photo: Towering Arsenal teenager spotted in first-team training ahead of Nottingham Forest

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal are preparing to take on Nottingham Forest today and Mikel Arteta has included a number of young players in training ahead of the clash.

Arteta is becoming well known for giving Arsenal’s youngsters exposure to the first-team environment. And the latest to be given a go in full-time training appears to towering defender, Zach Awe.

The 18-year-old is known at under-21s level for the Gunners already and is capable of playing both at centre-back and in central midfield. Awe, like other youngster such as Reuell Walters, has been spotted this week.

In the photo below released on Getty Images, Awe can be seen tussling with Bukayo Saka. Indicative of Awe’s size in comparison to Saka, there is a clear difference. Albeit, we all know Saka isn’t the tallest of players anyway.

Whether or not Awe features at any point today v Nottingham Forest remains to be seen. But Arteta has thrown curve balls already this season, not least with the inclusion of Ethan Nwaneri at Brentford.

TBR’s View: Zach Awe will be loving life at Arsenal under Arteta

There seems to be new players included in these training photos on a weekly basis and for players like Zach Awe, it is a massive confidence boost.

Areta clearly sees value in including the youngsters in sessions. Like others involved, Awe will only benefit from this exposure and it will help his career.

For Arsenal, this feels a big game against Forest today. They’ve not been at their best over the last couple and coming off a loss in Eindhoven, beating Forest will feel big.