Ayden Heaven made his first appearance in an Arsenal senior squad on Wednesday, but the player is drawing rival interest from around England.

The Evening Standard report that Ayden Heaven is attracting interest from Premier League clubs, amid the youngster’s first senior matchday call-up on Wednesday.

Heaven has trained with the Arsenal first team on a number of occasions in the past, but the young defender got his first chance  to feature on the bench away in Porto in midweek.

The 17-year-old is currently on a scholarship deal at Arsenal, but he’s yet to sign a professional contract, leaving his situation open.

The Standard report that Premier League clubs have been scouting Heaven in his Arsenal youth games, and he’s highly rated with his current club.

Heaven also spent time on the books at West Ham earlier in his youth career, and he had a few months on trial with Chelsea, but he’s reportedly always been an Arsenal fan.

Even so, supporting Arsenal and playing for Arsenal are clearly different things, and many players have been able to separate their fandom from their playing careers.

If Heaven thinks he’ll get better opportunities somewhere else, there are no guarantees he’ll stick around in north London just because he’s a fan.

Heaven has primarily operated as a centre-back or a left-back this season, but he’s played in midfield a lot in the past, and he could well return to a more central position as he continues his development.

The Arsenal u18s and u21s are more in need of defenders at the moment, which is why he’s spending more of his time there. But his height could make him a good fit for a long-term role at centre-back, so nothing can be ruled out yet.