Report: 17-year-old Maldini Kacurri trains with Arsenal first-team

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Mikel Arteta promoted 17-year-old Maldini Kacurri to Arsenal first-team training ahead of their Europa League tie with PSV Eindhoven this week, according to a report from Football London.

The Gunners have one foot in the knockout stages of the competition after winning their opening three games. A point on Thursday will be enough to ensure that Arsenal book their ticket to the knockout stages.

Obviously, topping the group takes Arsenal further in the competition. But there is an opportunity to rotate as the Gunners look to continue their amazing Premier League form.

Maldini Kacurri in Arsenal first-team training

And perhaps Arteta may be tempted to hand out a few more debuts having already used Ethan Nwaneri earlier this season.

Football London reports that three youngsters have been training with the first-team ahead of Thursday. Khayon Edwards is one. Meanwhile, both Catalin Cirjan and Kacurri have also been involved.

Kacurri joined the Gunners from Fulham in the summer. He is yet to appear for the under-21s. But he has made a handful of appearances for the under-18s. The 17-year-old was named on the bench for a Papa John’s Trophy game.

He is a centre-back. So it would be asking a lot to expect Kacurri to play against a side with the attacking quality of PSV. But if things are going well, perhaps Arteta may be tempted to hand him an opportunity.

It is a frightening statement to the Gunners’ rivals, too. Arteta has so many talented youngsters who have played pivotal roles in their electric start to the season.

And yet, they keep on coming. Obviously, it is too soon to say whether the likes of Edwards, Cirjan and Kacurri will make the grade with the first-team.

But it highlights just how bright the future could be at the Emirates.