Gabriel Jesus will miss the game against Bodo/Glimt as Arsenal look to take a firm grasp over their prospects in the Europa league this evening. With PSV playing FC Zurich, the expectation will be for the two giants of Group A to win, taking the Gunners five points clear of third and maintaining their three-point gap to the Dutch side.
Eddie Nketiah is set to step into the void left by Jesus, although Mikel Arteta has handed an opportunity to another forward who could make his Arsenal debut this evening if called upon. Khayon Edwards, 19, has travelled with the side, his first matchday experience at senior level.
Edwards signed a new deal with the club at the end of last season despite significant interest from outside. football.london understands both Chelsea and Brighton made approaches to Edwards before he elected to stay in north London.
READ MORE: Arsenal striker in line for debut after Gabriel Jesus ruled out of Europa League training
After taking part in the training session yesterday, Edwards took to Twitter to praise his manager. Tweeting a picture of Mikel Arteta working one on one with him with the caption: ‘Learning from the best’.
Arteta has made youth a massive part of his philosophy since returning as head coach and now manager. He finished fifth in the table with the youngest side in the league and last weekend defeated Liverpool with the second-youngest starting XI in the 2022/23 season.
He also handed a debut to record-breaking Ethan Nwaneri, who at 15 years of age became the youngest Premier League player ever. Other young stars have blossomed, developed and established themselves now as English top tier talent.
Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba have all taken their games to another level under the Spaniard. Edwards and others in the youth system will see these players as examples of opportunity afforded to those who have earned it.
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