Photo: 18-year-old deemed ‘more exciting than Saka’ called up to Arsenal training pre-Watford

Wed 2 March 2022 7:15, UK

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been putting his players through their paces ahead of their return to Premier League action.

The Gunners are in good form at present, having won their last three league games in a row and being unbeaten in four.

Arsenal haven’t played since last Thursday, when they ran out 2-1 winners over Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are next in action on Sunday with a trip to Watford, before facing three matches in six days.

After the Hornets clash, Arsenal then take on Leicester, Liverpool and Aston Villa between March 13 and 19.

With so many games coming up in quick succession, the Gunners’ squad will be pushed to the limit.

Therefore, it’s not surprising to see Arteta call up some of Arsenal’s most talented youngsters to first-team training.

This enables such players to get up to speed with the team’s tactics and potentially be in line for minutes.

On Tuesday, Arsenal trained at the Emirates Stadium instead of London Colney.

And one of the Gunners’ most highly-rated young players was in quite a few of the club’s pictures of the session.

Omari Hutchinson has trained with Arsenal’s first team on a number of occasions now.

The 18-year-old is yet to make his debut for the Gunners, but he’s featured in several squads this season.

Hutchinson has made the bench in five first-team games in all competitions this term.

Arteta clearly rates the attacking midfielder highly, and it’s no surprise really, given how talented he is.

Hutchinson is already proving too good for the Under-23s, despite earning promotion just last summer.

In 15 Premier League 2 games this season, he has already registered six goals and six assists.

He has also claimed two goals and one assist from four EFL Trophy appearances.

recently named Hutchinson in their list of the 50 most exciting teenagers in world football, at number 36.

They deemed him “more exciting than Bukayo Saka was in the Under-23s.”

They also wrote: “The teenager has a similarly wicked left foot and an ability to cut in from the left.

“But he’s flashier, enjoys a mazy run and plays like he’s on his lunchtime at school.”

Hutchinson looks likely to make his Arsenal debut this year and get a fair few minutes for the first team.

Could a Championship loan be on the cards for next term?

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