Arsenal Showcases Nigerian Talents In Pre-season Training

Two Semi Ajayi and Alex Iwobi will be joining English giants Arsenal FC on a pre-season training as the Gunners look toward the Premiership season which resumes August 16.

The players who have been with the Under-21 team of the Gunners will make their first team debut against Boreham Wood in a pre-season on July 19.

Semi Ajayi plays from the Central Defence from his time at Charlton Athletics before joining Arsenal last summer, he had been training with the first team since last season but was never chosen to debut.

20 year-old Semi Ajayi is in time to remain in the team for a much longer period as the first team senior players are currently involved in the 2014 FIFA World Cup which is in the quarter-final stages.

Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha’s nephew Alex Iwobi who plays as a winger will also join his fellow Nigerian Ajayi in the pre-season.

Iwobi has been at Arsenal for over 10 years, played in UEFA Youth competitions with the Arsenal youth team before finally getting the opportunity to join the first team

The 18-year-old England youth international has been a regular for Arsenal Under-18s, making six appearances in the 2013/14 U21 Premier League.

Iwobi is quick and skilful, he stood out with a stunning performance in the Gunners’ FA Youth Cup campaign this season. scoring three goals, including a crucial strike against Charlton Athletic in the fifth round on the way to the semi-finals; he made six appearances. He was also listed but was not used in the Capital One Cup victory over West Bromwich Albion.

Chuba Akpom who is the better known amongst the trio, listed in league games and Champions league, will not be joining the team as he is on assignment with the England youth team.