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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Mikel Arteta calls up six youngsters to Arsenal training session as defender returns from injury

Arsenal's penultimate training session ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash against Brentford is complete.

Now, arguably the main takeaway from the pictures sent back from London Colney is that Thomas Partey and Ben White were both involved but there was no sign of Oleksandr Zinchenko who hasn't officially been ruled out of the London derby despite a statement from the Ukraine national team regarding a calf muscle injury.

Furthermore, there were no images of captain Martin Odegaard or defender William Saliba either, but as already explained by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during his pre-match press conference on Friday, today's final session will determine which players are available for selection against the Bees.

READ MORE: Arsenal line-ups vs Brentford as Partey starts, big Tomiyasu decision, Gabriel Jesus returns

"Unfortunately, that day will be tomorrow when we have the last training session," was the Spaniard's response when asked for an update on team news. "Today there’s not much to give. Tomorrow, whoever we have to rule out is going to be tomorrow. We have those 24 hours still to see if one or two can be considered for training and for selection, but that will be key in the next 24 hours."

With that said, if Friday's session is anything to go by then it would appear that first-team stars such as Aaron Ramsdale, Matt Turner, Karl Hein, Kieran Tierney, White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Partey, Bukayo Saka, Fabio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Granit Xhaka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah and Marquinhos are all in contention to face Brentford.

But with a host of senior players absent for one reason or another, Arteta opted to call up a number of the club's most promising prospects to the training session and there's a good chance that one or two could be involved in the matchday squad come Sunday afternoon.

Lino Sousa - a highly-rated left-back who joined the club in the January transfer window - Reuell Walters - who featured in both of the club's overseas pre-season tours in Germany and the USA, is back following injury, defenders Taylor Foran and Zach Awe as well as Matt Smith and Amario Cozier-Duberry were the six youngsters involved in the session.

Interestingly, two of the players mentioned have Arsenal first-team matchday experience this season. Smith - who has actually been named in the club's Premier League squad - was on the bench against Aston Villa last month and for the Europa League win over FC Zurich alongside Cozier-Duberry.

Meanwhile, Awe made the bench for the 1-0 win away at Wolves last season as he was drafted in as defensive cover with Tomiyasu out injured and it feels like it's just a matter of time before Sousa and Walters are involved with the first-team.

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