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Football London
Football London
Sport
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Mikel Arteta calls up wonderkid for Arsenal training ahead of Leeds United trip

Arsenal players have been back in training this week following the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa last Sunday.

However, not every member of Mikel Arteta's senior squad was present for Thursday's session at London Colney ahead of the Premier League clash against Leeds United next weekend.

That's because the likes of Bernd Leno, Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Nicolas Pepe are away on international duty with their respective nations.

As a result, the Arsenal manager has had to borrow a couple of players from the academy to make up the numbers in training - as well as taking a closer look at the stars of the future.

And one of several Gunners wonderkids involved in Thursday's session was Nikolaj Moller.

The 18-year-old joined the north London outfit in the summer transfer window from Malmo and standing at 6ft4ins, alongside his technical ability, has drawn comparisons to former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Upon arriving at Arsenal, it was specified that the striker will be joining the club's Professional Development Phase but has, as expected, been involved with Steve Bould's Under-23s this season.

So to train with the likes of Rob Holding, Dani Ceballos, David Luiz, Willian and Calum Chambers this early into his Gunners career may have been a dream come true for Moller.

As mentioned above, Moller has featured for the Arsenal U23's on numerous occasions already this season.

Furthermore, he's scored three goals in as many Premier League 2 outings - including a brace in a 6-0 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers earlier in the month.

Judging by the response to Moller's call-up to Arsenal first-team training on Reddit, many supporters are convinced it's a positive sign.

ExcalipoorGilgamesh said: "Huge step for him. I've been keeping tabs on him ever since I was F5-ing for Partey and found out that we signed.

"Hyped for him and if he can even come close to his reputation from his former club of that of an Ibra regen, boy do we have a striker!

"Hoping that he quickly rises up the ranks, a season in U-21, U-23 and even a loan for first-team football and then hopefully he is worthy of being regularly in the matchday squad."

2ndfastestmanalive said: "He’ll get 15 goals a season off Tierney crosses if he can aim anywhere near the goal."

AFCeng0 said: "U23s Striker we signed on deadline day, he’s pretty highly rated from what I’ve seen."

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