Arsenal U23 got their pre season games underway with a 1-2 loss at London Colney to their counterparts from fellow English Premier League side Bournemouth.
Reports before the game had it that highly rated Nigerian prospect Kelechi Nwakali might be given a run out by manager Arsene Wenger after his fine showing for his loan side MVV Maastricht last season.
However the 18 year old didn’t get to line up for the Gunners, but another Nigerian made the headline for the right reasons despite Arsenal suffering a 1-2 loss to a strong Bournemouth side.
16 year old Folarin Balogun was one among five players of Nigerian descent who were given a run out by coach Steve Gatting, who fielded two entirely different starting line up for each half.
Folarin scored Arsenal’s only goal of the game when he pressed the Cherries backline and won the ball. He raced through on goal before coolly slotting the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper of Bournemouth.
The other Nigerians who were on show for the gunners were Tobi Omole, Aaron Eyoma, Joseph Olowu and Xavier Amaechi, and they will be hoping for more game time when the U23 play their next pre season game.
Michael James
