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Arsenal take highly-rated 17-year-old defender on trial

Arsenal have taken Wolves left-back Lennon Patterson on trial.

The 17-year-old trained with the Arsenal first-team last week and played for the Under-21 side on Monday.

Patterson operates as a left-back, which is where he started for Arsenal Under-21s in their 2-1 defeat to Sunderland.

He played 45 minutes before being taken off and replaced by Josh Nichols.

Patterson has also been given permission by Wolves to speak to Sheffield United, who are viewed as genuine contenders to sign him.

Sheffield United, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, are currently top of the Championship after 21 games.

Arsenal have a recent history of signing young talent from Wolves after Brayden Clarke joined them in March.

Clarke, who was 16 at the time, joined Arsenal as a first-year scholar but signed a professional contract with the Gunners in July after he turned 17.

The young centre-back was a part of the Wales squad that reached the European Under-17s Championships last year and trialled with Newcastle before joining Arsenal.

Patterson was also given the chance to train with the Arsenal first-team squad last week as part of his trial with the Gunners.

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