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Arsenal: 8 young talents to look out for vs AFC Wimbledon

By Ross Kennerley

SWINDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Charlie Patino of Arsenal looks on during the Papa John's Trophy match between Swindon Town and Arsenal U21 at County Ground on September 07, 2021 in Swindon, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
SWINDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Charlie Patino of Arsenal looks on during the Papa John's Trophy match between Swindon Town and Arsenal U21 at County Ground on September 07, 2021 in Swindon, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Tim Akinola
WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 08: Tim Akinola of Arsenal U21 during the EFL Trophy match between AFC Wimbledon and Arsenal U21 at Plough Lane on December 8, 2020 in Wimbledon, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

6. Tim Akinola

Age: 20
Position: Defensive midfielder

Tim Akinola was someone who looked destined for a loan move away in the summer transfer window as it was felt this was the time for him to prove himself in senior football.

A combative defensive midfielder with all the right physical attributes, the one area of his game you’d say was lacking would be in what he does on the ball.

This season he’s already looked like improving on that. Against Chelsea he was superb in the heart of midfield and withstood any Blues pressure superbly, despite the Gunners playing with ten men for around an hour.

Interestingly, too, is that he has been training for an extended period of time with the first team. Central midfield is an area of the squad where Arsenal are light and heading into this one the only realistic starters are going to be Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles: Elneny is injured, Xhaka is banned and Partey will surely be rested.

If further injury crises strike and Akinola continues to impress then the FA Cup games to come also open up possible minutes, not least with Partey and Elneny off to AFCON.

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