There was a surprise face in Arsenal training on Monday as Mikel Arteta’s side prepared for his or her Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.
The Premier League leaders will look to proceed their good run of form once they welcome the La Liga giants to the Emirates on Tuesday night.
And after winning their first two Champions League games against Athletic Club and Olympiakos, the Gunners can move to the highest of the league phase table.
Atletico will provide a stern test, so Arteta shall be grateful that he has no recent injury concerns following Saturday’s win at Fulham, while Piero Hincapie is now fit and available following a groin issue.
But eagle-eyed fans also spotted a free agent who got here through the Hale End academy training with the first-team at London Colney ahead of the match.
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Tyreece John-Jules spent 15 years at Arsenal but did not make a senior appearance, though he was within the matchday squad for the Community Shield win over Liverpool in 2020.
Nevertheless, the striker was and stays a preferred figure on the club and is even close friends with summer arrival Noni Madueke.
After being loaned out to Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town and Derby County, John-Jules was released by Arsenal last 12 months.
He went onto sign for Crawley Town but did not rating in 27 appearances last season because the club were relegated from League One and he became a free agent once more.
Still with out a club, the Gunners recently invited the 24-year-old to coach with their youth sides with the intention to keep fit, and it seems he’s now helping the first-team with their preparations too.
The players seemed in good spirit ahead of the Atletico clash, notably joking around with coach Gabriel Heinze, with Arteta heaping praise on the previous Manchester United defender, who joined his staff over the summer.
‘My feeling is that they really love him, which is normal,’ the manager said in his pre-match press conference.
‘But the remainder of the coaches are the identical. They’re all very different characters, but the connection and the bond that we now have with the players, I feel it’s unique and I feel that’s something very, very powerful within the team.
‘Gabriel has added something different, that willingness to win. We’ve seen that through his profession, that have to win and to raise any person’s level, ambition and drive to the very best limit, and he’s extraordinary at that.’
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