Nathan Butler-Oyedeji has thanked the fans after winning the EFL Trophy Player of the Group Stage award with the Arsenal u21s.

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji with the EFL Trophy Player of the Group Stage award (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji with the EFL Trophy Player of the Group Stage award (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)

Arsenal’s Nathan Butler-Oyedeji won the EFL Trophy Player of the Group Stage award last month, receiving 45.2% of the vote, ahead of Kieran Sadlier (Bolton Wanderers, 33.7%), Dennis Politic (Port Vale, 11.4%), and Jacob Chapman (Salford City, 9.7%).

The forward has now received the award, and Arsenal posted his reaction on their Twitter account on Tuesday.

“It’s an honour to win, I’m very grateful for everyone who voted for me,” Butler-Oyedeji said. “Every game brought a different challenge, It was a great learning experience for myself and the team.”

Butler-Oyedeji scored three goals and assisted one in his three appearances in the group stage (four of Arsenal’s five goals), stepping into a centre-forward role from his usual position on the wing in the absence of Khayon Edwards and Billy Vigar through injury.

The youngster then also scored against Stevenage in the first knockout round, but Arsenal slipped to a 3-2 defeat.

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji celebrates his goal against Stevenage (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji celebrates his goal against Stevenage (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)

Butler-Oyedeji couldn’t have timed his upturn in form much better, as he’s now in the squad for the first-team tour of Dubai, and Gabriel Jesus is out injured for a few months.

The 19-year-old will likely get a chance on the pitch in the upcoming friendlies in Dubai, and then it’s not impossible he’s involved as Arsenal play against lower-league opposition in the FA Cup, facing Oxford United in January.