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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Arsenal loan star makes surprise appearance in training after January transfer announcement

Arsenal are back in the UK and looking ahead to Thursday's Premier League showdown with Wolves.

Following the goalless draw at home to Burnley late last month, Mikel Arteta took a group of first-team players, a handful of youngsters and Jack Wilshere to Dubai for a warm-weather training camp.

After over a week in the Middle East, the Arsenal players and Wilshere returned to England and had a training session at London Colney in preparation for the trip to Wolves.

The likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Nicolas Pepe, Benjamin White and Emile Smith Rowe were all put through their paces at the club's training base by Arteta and his coaching staff.

But there was a surprise face in the training session.

As seen in the image below, Jordi Osei-Tutu, who was recalled from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest last month, was involved and this was somewhat unexpected, as his move to Rotherham United was announced on January transfer deadline day.

"Jordi Osei-Tutu has joined Rotherham United on loan for the remainder of the 2021/22 season," a statement on Arsenal.com read.

"The 23-year-old defender moves to the League One side to gain further experience after enjoying three previous loan spells away during his time with us."

This is Osei-Tutu's fourth loan away from Arsenal, having also had a spell with Cardiff City last season and in Germany with VfL Bochum during the 2019/2020 campaign.

The sight of the 23-year-old in training with the Gunners may have come as a shock to many supporters, but there's a perfect explanation for his surprise appearance.

Jordi Osei-Tutu during an Arsenal training session at London Colney (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

As suggested by Arsenal Youth expert, Jeorge Bird, Osei-Tutu could be training with his parent club to build up his fitness and will then link up with Rotherham once he's fit again.

Injuries have disrupted Osei-Tutu's development so far this season. He sustained a hamstring problem 17 minutes into his second appearance for Forest against Blackburn Rovers in August and it kept him out of action for four months.

"It is his hamstring. We’re still assessing him and at this moment we don’t think it’s so bad, but we will assess that one and scan it as always," then-Forest manager Chris Hughton confirmed. "It’s disappointing for us, but your first thoughts are with the lad.

"It’s an exciting time for him as he’s at the start of his career, he is a highly-rated player at Arsenal, and even in the short time he’s been here, we can seen the qualities he has.

"Our first thoughts are very much with him, and we just hope it doesn’t disrupt his season too much."

Then after making a successful return against Swansea City on December 11, Osei-Tutu suffered another setback a week later as he sustained an ankle injury shortly before half-time in the 2-1 win over Hull City.

And that remains his last appearance to date.

Hopefully Osei-Tutu can steer clear of injury once he joins up with Rotherham and Paul Warne has promised to take good care of the Arsenal youngster.

"He has had injuries and I'm happy to take that risk," The Millers boss said. "I know he had a hamstring injury and I know all the background on that.

"I know he started well at Forest and then got an ankle injury.

"He might not get injured for the next 10 years! I am well-aware that if he hadn't had those injuries he might not be coming to us in the third tier of English football.

"If it makes our team better, I think the risk is worth it. He's in good physical shape at the moment and we'll do our absolute best to keep him that way.

"I've had many conversations with Arsenal and reassured them that we will manage his minutes and his training like we do our own.

"I think our history generally at this place has been quite good for that."

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