According to football.london, Arsenal’s new signing Lino Sousa is continuing to grab the attention of the first team’s coaching staff, which includes Mikel Arteta. Arsenal signed the 17-year-old from West Brom in January. He has already made nine appearances for the club’s Under-18s and Under-23s teams.
Sousa, who is of Brazilian descent, played for the West Brom Under-18s last season, two years above his age group. He has been identified as a potential star of the future by those at London Colney.
As originally disclosed by football.london in January, Sousa is a very versatile left-back who has attracted the interest of numerous Premier League clubs. This is due to his superb dribbling skills and tight control. To give Arsenal’s younger players more opportunities and incorporate them into first-team training sessions, Arteta often gives them opportunities. Sousa recently scored for the Under-23s in a 3-3 draw with Manchester City.
He has done so more often in recent weeks. The Gunners’ roster has shrunk as a result of the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Calum Chambers, and Pablo Mari during the winter transfer window.
Sousa making huge strides and Arsenal will want to use him
Sousa was invited to an England training camp in March 2020. He has since gone on to represent the Young Lions at the under-15 and under-16 levels for the country. He has played for the Baggies at a higher age group level. The fullback made his professional debut in a Premier League 2 match against Newcastle in February 2021.
Peter Gilbert, the West Brom under-18s’ coach, described Lino as “an athletic full-back who reads the game well, has a great left foot. It’s not often a 16-year-old plays a complete season with the 18s. But that’s a credit to him because he has so much promise.”
As a result of the confirmation that Kieran Tierney would undergo knee surgery, he has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. In the absence of the Scotland international, Nuno Tavares would likely fill in. The likes of Mazeed Ogungbo and Sousa are also in contention for inclusion in the squad.
