The victory over Newcastle last weekend was a compelling game and it was an especially memorable experience for Mauro Bandeira, with the Arsenal youngster selected to travel with the first-team squad to St James’ Park.
Bandeira wasn’t named amongst the substitutes but it was the first time that the 19-year-old has experienced being involved with the squad on a Premier League matchday.
An all-action midfielder who possesses both defensive and creative qualities, Bandeira was previously an unused substitute away to Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League.
In recent months Bandeira has been heavily involved in first-team training sessions and he is a player who Mikel Arteta has been monitoring for some time as he was played in a behind closed doors friendly against Brentford B last season.
With Oleksandr Zinchenko reportedly set to miss the rest of the season through injury it seems likely that there will be a space for an academy player on the bench for the last three Premier League games this season.
There are other candidates, such as Reuell Walters and Lino Sousa, but at the moment Bandeira is one of the leading contenders to fill that void.
Next season the youngster will be looking to make his competitive debut in senior football, which could come via a loan spell.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Banderillasz the baller from Brixton
Unfortunate surname
Hey Jeorge Bird, is there any plan to put together a summary on progress of all the youngsters who have been involved in first team training.