Report: 20-year-old Arsenal talent involved in angry training-ground incident with £45m Gunners star

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Football London claim Tim Akinola was at the centre of an angry clash with Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey – after a training-ground incident.

Akinola, 20, has been promoted to the senior side of late after impressing in Arsenal’s Under-23 side. He is yet to make his first-team debut.

But clearly, the defensive midfielder will have been keen on making an impression. Especially, given his position, Partey is deemed a rival.

It is reported that Akinola went full-blooded into a 50-50 challenge with the youngster, that left Partey “fuming”. The two are said to have clashed.

Partey has suffered numerous injury issues since his £45million (BBC) move from Atletico Madrid. Little surprise, he was annoyed with Akinola.

It must be said, the report states that after training had finished – Partey relented and labelled Akinola as one of the strongest players he had faced.

Akinola and Partey clash: Could Arsenal talent get his chance soon?

This season? Probably not. But next season, Akinola has a chance of breaking into the senior side – especially if Arsenal get European football.

The youngster is clearly showing he has what it takes to play in Arteta’s first team. Getting under the skin of his starting XI players, too.

Mo Elneny and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are more than likely to leave in the near future. Granit Xhaka could too, but he seems more settled now.

As cover, Akinola could come in for Partey to give the Ghanaian a rest – but only until Elneny and Maitland-Niles are sold, perhaps in January.