Mikel Arteta is considering handing Tommy Setford his senior Arsenal debut when the Gunners travel to Preston on Wednesday night.
Arteta made Jack Porter the youngest-ever player to start for the Gunners when he gave the 16-year-old goalkeeper the nod in the last round of the Carabao Cup against Bolton.
Setford was injured for that 5-1 win and, with No1 David Raya out too and his deputy Neto cup-tied, Porter got the chance to make history.
Arsenal are now set to head to Championship side Preston in the fourth round and the fit-again Setford, who joined the club from Ajax in the summer for a fee of around £1million, is in contention to make his debut with No1 Raya likely to be rested.
“We brought him because we know he’s got the qualities we’re looking for with our goalkeeping area,” said Gunners boss Arteta.
“But unfortunately he’s been injured so he hasn’t really played. Let’s see if we play him or not tomorrow.”
Setford, who had been struggling with a hip injury, is one of several Arsenal academy players that may play at Deepdale on Wednesday.
Teenagers Ayden Heaven, Ethan Nwaneri, Josh Nichols, Ismeal Kabia, Maldini Kacurri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are among those who could also feature.
“It’s not a question about age, it’s that if they play it’s because they deserve to, the same as the rest of the players,” said Arteta.
“At the end of the day, we have to reward the people who each day they behave in a certain manner and they have the level to play in the manner we want.
“I don’t care if they are players from the academy, youth players or seniors, tomorrow they will play.
“Everyone who is in the first team and everyone who plays with us will have the opportunity to play tomorrow.
“There are players who haven’t played that much. They will have their chance tomorrow, that’s for sure.
“You have to earn the right to play and when you have that right you have to perform and you have to perform in a way to impact the game.
“That’s what we’re going to demand from everybody whether you’re young, experienced or have been playing regularly for us.”
