Premier League champions Arsenal kicked off their preparations for the 2026-2027 season with a 3-0 victory over MK Dons in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Saturday.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been assessing three teenagers of Nigerian descent with a view to including them in the travelling squad to Spain.
Fresh from signing his first professional contract with Arsenal, versatile left-back Josh Ogunnaike played the entire second half alongside forward Andre Harriman-Annous and talented midfielder Ife Ibrahim.
With the exception of Ogunnaike, the aforementioned players of Nigerian descent all made their first-team debuts for the Gunners last season.
According to Arsenal youth team insider Jeorge Bird, Harriman-Annous, 18, wore the captain's armband during the second half of the victory over MK Dons.
Arteta made eight changes at the interval, with the younger side captained by Harriman-Annous.
After Reiss Nelson broke the deadlock, Nigerian Federation target Ethan Nwaneri doubled Arsenal's advantage six minutes before halftime with a superb curling effort over the goalkeeper.
Ceadach O'Neill added further gloss to the scoreline in the 65th minute by scoring Arsenal's third goal.
Former Nigeria U20 international centre-back Marvin Ekpiteta played the full match for the newly promoted League One side.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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