Mikel Arteta calls up ‘very dangerous’ young winger inspired by Alexis Sanchez to Arsenal training pre-PSV

Arsenal will look to take their place in the Champions League quarter-finals when they host PSV Eindhoven in their last-16 second leg on Wednesday night.

The Gunners swept PSV away in the first leg as they ran out 7-1 winners at the Philips Stadion, so they’ll be heavy favourites to proceed from the tie.

With Arsenal taking on Chelsea in the Premier League this weekend, Mikel Arteta could be tempted to ring the changes against PSV.

And on Tuesday, a ‘very dangerous’ academy winger with ‘blistering pace’ was spotted in the Gunners’ latest training session.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta says £50m Arsenal player who’s a ‘real threat’ could return to starting XI against PSV

Reece Clairmont spotted in Arsenal training ahead of PSV Eindhoven clash

The player in question is Reece Clairmont, who is currently with Arsenal’s Under-18s and was spotted vying with the ball against Jorginho.

The 18-year-old joined Arsenal – his boyhood club – from Walthamstow’s Ryan FC in October 2020 and has risen through the ranks to the Under-18s setup.

“Reece is a quick wide attacker who is very dangerous when 1v1 with an opponent,” the Arsenal media team wrote when Clairmont became a first-year scholar in 2023.

“Reece came to Hale End in his Under-13 season. He has blistering pace and is also able to operate at left back. ”

Clairmont has also spoken of his admiration for Alexis Sanchez and previously said he sought to model his style of play on the Chile legend along with Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I’m a massive Arsenal fan and I vividly remember my very first Arsenal shirt, which had Alexis on the back when he signed for the club,” Clairmont told the Arsenal website.

“He was my favourite player, and I even wore the same boots. My favourite memories from him would be his goal against Manchester United and his iconic strike against Aston Villa in the 2015 FA Cup Final.

“In my early days on the pitch I started as a centre back, primarily because I was the tallest in my age group, but I wanted to copy the skilful styles of Cristiano Ronaldo and Alexis Sanchez.

“Given that I couldn’t do that at the back, I decided to play further forward and in my Sunday League team I played on the wing, where I could develop my game and become a more potent threat further up the pitch.”

Arsenal team news v PSV

Arteta confirmed that there were no fresh fitness or injury worries following the 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

Martinelli is also available, having returned to action at Old Trafford and getting 32 minutes under his belt.

He was in matchday squad for the first time since he was forced off the field after 37 minutes of the League Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle United over a month ago.

Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain on the sidelines due to injury.

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