In preparation for the upcoming Champions League match against Club Brugge, several academy players had the opportunity to train with the Arsenal first-team squad today. Among them was centre-back Marli Salmon, who made his presence felt after being benched during the previous game against Aston Villa. He was joined by right-back Josh Nichols and left-back Marcell Washington, both of whom have shown promising potential in their respective positions.
Notably, midfielder Louie Copley, the captain of Arsenal’s U21 team, also participated in the training session. While Salmon, Nichols, and Copley are eligible for selection in the Champions League squad, Washington does not meet the criteria for this competition.
U21 winger Osman Kamara was involved in the latter part of the first-team training, showcasing the depth of talent available in Arsenal’s youth setup.
However, not all first-team members were able to participate fully in training. Reports from Sky Sports indicated that Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were working indoors due to minor injuries, while William Saliba remained absent from the session. Key defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera, along with midfielder Kai Havertz, continue to be sidelined.
Meanwhile, former gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with Arsenal’s U21 squad, keeping himself fit while awaiting his next opportunity. As the team gears up for their match against Brugge, the integration of youth players into the training sessions reflects Arsenal’s commitment to developing homegrown talent amidst ongoing injury challenges.
