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The Gunners are expected to trigger an option to extend the contract of Tim Akinola, with his current deal due to expire next summer.
The defensive midfielder moved to the Emirates from Huddersfield Town last August, and has turned in a string of impressive performances at under-23 level.
It was expected that he would be named in the Arsenal first-team squad to play Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup two weeks ago, but a last-minute request from Thomas Partey to play in that match to try and improve his fitness, scuppered his chances in the end,
And, in the absence of European football this season, which first gave the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe the chance to make a name for themselves, Akinola may be allowed to leave on loan in January.
It is recognised that training regularly with the first team, like Akinola is doing, is no substitute for playing first-team football week in and out.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.