Arsenal wonderkid spotted in first-team training ahead of Brentford game, Mikel Arteta is a fan

An Arsenal teenager yet to make his professional debut for the club is training with the first team before Saturday's game against Brentford.

Mikel Arteta's side return to Premier League action knowing they could end the weekend top of the table.

Manchester City face Liverpool earlier in the day and if that ends a draw, the Gunners know a win at the Gtech Community Table will see them leapfrog their rivals.

Arsenal will be buoyed by the return of captain Martin Odegaard, who missed the last three before the international break with a concussion.

Odegaard was spotted at the London Colney on Thursday with an unfamiliar face to most.

Alongside the Norway international in the image below is 17-year-old Ayden Heaven.

The defender is impressing for the U18s and U21s this term, making 14 appearances across the age groups.

Heaven was awarded a scholarship by Arsenal earlier this year and is already being fast-tracked to the first team.

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In an interview with Arsenal's official website earlier this year, Heaven revealed he was a fan of Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott while growing up.

He explained: "Growing up I was a huge Arsenal fan and one of my favourite players was Alexis Sanchez.

"He always managed to pick out a goal when we needed it. I was also a big fan of Theo Walcott, he had great movement, his pace was lethal and he was a deadly finisher in front of goal. I think he’s one of Arsenal’s most under-rated players."

Heaven's chances of making it to the first team are high under Arteta. Since arriving at the Emirates Stadium in 2019, he's made use of the youngsters at his disposal.

Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson have all had standout moments, while Gabriel Martinelli has improved.

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He continued: "I was one of the lucky few to get my scholarship a year early, so I knew this time last year that I was going to be playing for the under-18s at London Colney.

"Seeing the first team players like Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah and Odegaard etc. is amazing because we look up to them and it’s inspiring.

"I’ve trained with the first team a couple of times and the intensity is crazy! You get dizzy sometimes because it’s at such a quick tempo.

"The difference between under-18s, under-21s and the first team is unbelievable."

Don't rule out Heaven making a brief cameo on Saturday. Last season, Arteta handed 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri his debut away to Brentford, making him the youngest player in Premier League history.