It’s not often that Arsenal confirm the signing of a player after he’s worn the club’s colours but that’s the way things have played out for new recruit Lino Sousa.
The 17-year-old left-back made his debut for the club’s under-18s in a 4-0 win against Chelsea last Saturday – a 29-minute cameo off the bench – but had to wait until Friday before the Gunners’ website shone a spotlight on his arrival from West Bromwich Albion.
Sousa made his debut for the Baggies’ under-23 side when he was just 16 and is now hoping he can make a similar impact at London Colney.
“I’d like to thank the club for giving me this opportunity to be here and I’m just excited to get going to be honest,” he told Arsenal.com.
“I’ve seen that obviously recently things have started to change a bit around here and a lot more young players are coming through and there’s a pathway there. That’s what I’m hopefully looking to aim to do and just progress into the first team one day.
“Bukayo and Emile are two players that have done it and there’s plenty more, and hopefully I’ll be able to add to that list one day.
“I just want to get my head down, get back playing, get into that under-23s team and then hopefully be with the first team for pre-season.”
We look forward to following Lino’s progress at Arsenal. Who knows, maybe he’ll be challenging Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares with a couple of years…
“These are not the transfers you’re looking for” – while waving hand, Obi-wan style.
And neither will be blind panic buys which Arsenal are famed for. I would rather sign players like this than expensive duds like Soares or Morata, if the rumours are true.
Haha honestly, for my own mental well-being I need to stop looking at arseblognews for the next couple of days! Literally every day for the past few weeks, the stories on this site have been about 90% WSL/Youth Academy news and possibly one story from the first team every two days. Underwhelming to think that after a couple of exciting links in the early stages, this has to have been the slowest transfer window for news stories I can remember in years. And the complete lack of match action definitely isn’t helping either! Roll on the Wolves game tbh (whether… Read more »
Haha
I’ve refreshed the main site and blog around a hundred times these last couple of days for “news.” Sadly, got nothing.
There’s a nice piece on the main site titled “The Calm Before the Storm.” I hope we have a Storm. This is just too calm for me.
I suspect there’ll be a storm alright if we don’t sign anyone – especially a makeshift striker.
Welcome to The Arsenal
Welcome on board, Son. Wishing you all the best at the Arsenal.
For this window, it has to be harmless loan signing(s) to plug a few holes in the first team and nothing more; except a planned signing suddenly becomes available.
We’ve had our fingers so burned in January I doubt we have any fingers left.
I like the fact he talked of playing with the first team by preseason. Ambitious and hopefully talented
Confident kid. Good attitude will take him far. Here or wherever.
Auba not good enough for Arteta but good enough for Barca on loan for rest of season.
Let that sink in.
Guendouzi, Saliba, Torreira, he has not been short on assets. Has he been able to manage them?
Guimares picked up by Newcastle. We are going no where with Edu and Arteta.
Rams in the Superbowl. Come on Stan splash the cash and celebrate a bit.
I hear that Lino will be facing stiff competition from Didier Parquet, Jack Tiles, Gert Rugge and Alexander Carr-Pette.
Ok, I get the message, leaving now, no need to throw things…