Arsenal teenager Lino Sousa could feature for the Gunners against Chelsea, with the 17-year-old reportedly set to make the bench for Wednesday night’s clash.
According to Football London, the January signing from West Bromwich Albion is in contention to join up with the Arsenal first-team to face Chelsea, with injury problems continuing to plague the Gunners.
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Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey are both set to miss the remainder of the season through injury, and their absences have been felt by Arsenal, who have lost their last three Premier League fixtures in what have been huge blows in the race for top-four.
A thin senior squad has left Mikel Arteta naming numerous academy players on the bench, and Sousa could now join the likes of Omari Hutchinson and Miguel Azeez on the sideline to face Chelsea.
As per Football London, the 17-year-old has left senior figures at Arsenal impressed in training, including Arteta, and this could be the factor that has led to reports of Sousa potentially featuring against Chelsea.
Naturally a left-back but operating in a more attacking role since moving to Arsenal, Sousa would be a last-ditch option for the Gunners if he is to win his debut this week against Chelsea, which only highlights how shallow Arteta’s squad is as we head into the final weeks of the season.
Sousa call-up for Chelsea proves Arteta has to flesh out Arsenal’s squad
Whilst for many Arsenal fans there is natural excitement over seeing academy players make the bench for the senior squad, the lack of experienced names in the team shows how desperately Arteta has to flesh out the side this summer.
Indeed, options are lacking in the majority of positions, and Arteta and Edu Gaspar must address these problems in the summer, which could be the difference Arsenal need to clinch a top-four spot.
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