Arsene Wenger Will Assess Kelechi Nwakali For Arsenal’s First Team

If you followed the 2015 Under-17 World Cup, you’re sure to know Kelechi Nwakali – captain of the Golden Eaglets who led the team to win the tournament and went on to win the Golden Ball Award. After Arsenal signed him on a five-year deal and loaned him out to Dutch club, MVV Maastricht, the 19-year-old might be on his way to joining the Gunners’ first team for real.

Early this year, Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, didn’t include him on the list of players to be promoted to the first team. It was widely thought that Nwakali would spend another year on loan, but, according to The Guardian, he’ll be playing in the pre-season game between Arsenal’s Under-23 team and Barnet FC on Thursday – and Wenger will assess him specially during the friendly match.

This is coming after Nwakali met with Wenger early this month. If he impresses Wenger at the match, he will be issued a work permit that will make him eligible to play in England and his loan to MVV Maastricht will be terminated as he will join Arsenal’s first team.