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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Callum Vurley

Mikel Arteta promotes Arsenal wonderkid to senior training during international break

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has brought in another wonderkid to his senior side following the triumph of Emile Smith Rowe.

The 21-year-old was called up to the England side after Marcus Rashford pulled out to concentrate on his fitness with Manchester United.

It marks a brilliant rise in stature for the youngster, who broke into the Gunners first-team under Arteta last season.

And the midfielder has been in fine form in recent weeks, scoring in three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time.

For Arteta, it backs up the opinion that the Spaniard has worked wonders with the youngsters at the Emirates and another could set to join the list of starlets.

Mikel Arteta bolstered his ranks in training this week (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Alexei Rojas Fedorushchenko was promoted to first-team training this week as the Gunners coach looks for the next big thing in his academy.

Arsenal's Hale End has been commended for its ability to churn out top stars over the years and there is real hope this latest bright star can make it to the top.

The goalkeeper has wowed coaches for the Under-16s and was given the chance to strut his stuff with the seniors.

Have Your Say! Who will be the next Arsenal academy graduate to make a first-team debut? Comment below

Fedorushchenko posted to his personal Instagram, where he said: "Incredible experience training with the first-team today."

The 16-year-old was put between the sticks as Arsenal's top stars who did not go on international duty took shots at the youngster.

Whether the teenager will break into the first-team anytime soon remains to be seen with Aaron Ramsdale in such inspired form.

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New hero: Emile Smith Rowe follows in Cesc Fabregas' footsteps after Arsenal heroics

The Englishman signed from Sheffield United for £35m in the summer and has already taken Bernd Leno's spot in the starting XI.

However, with the 23-year-old joining Smith Rowe on international duty with Gareth Southgate - a goalkeeper was needed in training.

And the fact that Arteta brought in Fedorushchenko indicates that the Arsenal manager has a lot of faith in the Colombian, who also has a Russian passport.

Most recently, Arsenal had to thank their academy for all three points when they beat Watford 1-0 at the Emirates on Sunday.

It was Smith Rowe who decided the encounter when his fine effort beat Ben Foster, who had saved a penalty from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang earlier in the match.

As a result, Arsenal went fifth in the Premier League and have gone unbeaten in 10 games under Arteta.

For the Spaniard, the Gunners have hit form at a perfect time with the perils of Tottenham and Manchester United meaning they have got as good a chance to make it into the top four for the first time since 2016.

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