Arteta promotes Nigerian-born younger Tim Akinola into Arsenal first team ahead of Foxes game

ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta has promoted Nigerian-born midfielder Tim Akinola to the Gunners first team in a desperate bid to shore up the team's flagging fortunes as it faces Leicester City this weekend.

Although over recent weeks Arsenal have got off the foot of the ladder and are now sitting pretty comfortable in mid table, they face a tricky tie to the King Power Stadium on Saturday and defeat could see them slip down the league.  As training intensifies ahead of the trip, the under-fire Arteta has gambled on youth, bringing Akinola into the squad.

Nigeria-eligible duo Folarin Balogun and goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who are also first teamers on paper, took part in the training session too. All three Anglo-Nigerian youngsters have a slim chance of being included in the match day squad against the Foxes, although they could be involved in U23 duties against Leeds United on Friday evening.

Arteta has a large squad to choose from but knows that his current crop of players are not performing well enough, so he needs to inject some talent into the team. Historically, Arsenal have always gone on to do well when talented youths break into their first as was witnesses with the likes of Tony Adams, Cesc Fabergas, Patrick Viera and lately, Bukayo Saka.