ARSENAL youngster Ayden Heaven was called up to first team training this week ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brentford.
The 17-year-old was pictured alongside Martin Odegaard at London Colney on Tuesday.
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Heaven has impressed for the Under-18’s and Under-21’s so far this season, making 14 appearances across all competitions.
And now he is understood to be pushing for his first team breakthrough.
The Hale End academy star joined Arsenal as a midfielder but gradually switched to become a centre-back.
Heaven was among the group of Arsenal stars that were awarded a scholarship earlier this year and he has since trained with the first team on several occasions.
The boyhood Arsenal fan is a known admirer of ex-Gunners Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott.
In a feature for the club’s official website, he said: “Growing up I was a huge Arsenal fan and one of my favourite players was Alexis Sanchez.
“He always managed to pick out a goal when we needed it. I was also a big fan of Theo Walcott, he had great movement, his pace was lethal and he was a deadly finisher in front of goal. I think he’s one of Arsenal’s most under-rated players.”
Heaven also admitted that he has been inspired by first team stars Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah, adding: “I was one of the lucky few to get my scholarship a year early, so I knew this time last year that I was going to be playing for the under-18s at London Colney.
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“Seeing the first team players like Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah and Odegaard etc. is amazing because we look up to them and it’s inspiring.
“I’ve trained with the first team a couple of times and the intensity is crazy! You get dizzy sometimes because it’s at such a quick tempo.
“The difference between under-18s, under-21s and the first team is unbelievable.”
Following his training session with the first team, Heaven started for Arsenal’s Under-18’s in a Premier League Cup match against Derby County.
The Gunners won the match 2-1 thanks to goals from Harrison Dudziak and Ismeal Kabia.
Mikel Arteta’s squad return to Premier League action this Saturday when they travel to face Brentford.
The Spaniard handed then-15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri his debut at the Gtech Community Stadium last season.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Nwaneri became the youngest Premier League player of all time when he was introduced in the 91st minute of the match.
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