Pre-season is always one of the most exciting times for young players, with many of them often given a chance to make an impact with the first-team, especially this year with a large amount of senior players having been absent due to the World Cup.
This summer Theo Julienne has been one of the biggest beneficiaries in that regard, with the 18-year-old having featured in all of the first-team’s friendlies so far.
A hard-working player who has always carried the aura of a senior professional, Julienne mainly featured in midfield in the second half of last season as he established himself as a key figure in Arsenal’s U21 team.
This summer, however, it is at right-back (a position he has also often played in at youth level) that Julienne has been given a chance following the absence of Jurrien Timber and the unfortunate ACL injury suffered by Louie Copley.
Julienne has looked eager to impress and chalked up another milestone last weekend as he featured at Emirates Stadium for the first time in a senior game when he came on as a substitute against Borussia Dortmund.
With Timber still out and Ben White working his way back to full sharpness, Julienne could remain around the first-team in training at least when the competitive action gets underway and he will be looking to make his debut at some stage this season.
What will be especially interesting is whether Julienne will continue to feature at right-back for the U21s or if he reverts to operating in midfield at that level.
Wherever he is deployed, it has certainly been a successful summer for Julienne so far as he has edged closer to the first-team squad.
Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird