Arsenal handed a debut to 17-year-old Mason Cotcher, most recently of Sunderland, in Saturday’s u18 fixture away to Middlesbrough.

When the Arsenal academy named their u18 side to face Middlesbrough in the u18 Premier League Cup on Saturday morning, there was a surprise addition in the form of teenage forward Mason Cotcher.

England u17 international Cotcher hasn’t been officially announced as an Arsenal player, and it’s since been reported that he is only on trial at this stage.

But it seems a move from former club Sunderland is at least in the works, as the youngster also reportedly played in an Arsenal u17 fixture recently.

Cotcher had a solid 2022/23 campaign, scoring or assisting 10 goals in 19 u18 Premier League games for Sunderland.

He impressed enough to make the bench for the Sunderland senior side in the FA Cup in January, before going on to play for the England u17s over the subsequent international break.

But Cotcher hasn’t played for Sunderland in 2023/24, in another sign that he’s on the move.

We’ll have to wait for official confirmation on whether or not Cotcher makes a permanent transfer to Arsenal. For now, he’ll be looking to impress on his debut appearance against Middlesbrough.