Joel Lopez

Former Arsenal academy left-back Joel Lopez has joined Spanish third-tier team Cultural Leonesa as a free agent after leaving the Gunners this summer.

Arsenal have confirmed they’re releasing at least four players this summer, with Eddie Nketiah’s situation still unclear as a possible fifth.

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Alexandre Lacazette returned to training this week ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea, as well as some youth players joining the session.

With Kieran Tierney out for the rest of the season, let’s take a look at the Arsenal academy players who could potentially step into the first-team squad.

The Arsenal u21s made it to their first-ever EFL Trophy quarter-final on Tuesday night with a convincing win over Chelsea.

Reading u23 coach Mehmet Ali will join up with the Arsenal u23s as an assistant to Kevin Betsy from January, according to a report.

Arsenal youth defender Joel Lopez is having an injury problem assessed, after missing the u23 match at the weekend.

The Arsenal u23s returned to the top of the Premier League 2 table with another dramatic late goal from Folarin Balogun on Monday night.

The Arsenal u23s went top of the PL2 table in front of a big Elland Road crowd after coming from behind twice to beat Leeds United.

Four of Arsenal’s u23 squad joined up with the first team for training this week, ahead of the Europa League quarter-final against Slavia Prague.

Joel Lopez trained with the Arsenal first team this week after the club elected not to sign a backup left-back in the transfer window.

William Saliba and Tim Akinola picked up red cards playing for the Arsenal u21s on Tuesday night, but the rules on suspensions are a little unusual in this case.

Arsenal have updated the status of a few male players while one of the Arsenal women has, as is standard, picked up an injury on international duty.

Arsenal youth left-back Joel Lopez missed the u23 match against Derby after breaking his wrist, but it’s not likely to keep him out for long.

With Sead Kolasinac potentially missing the next couple of games after a positive Covid-19 test, Joel Lopez deserves a chance on Mikel Arteta’s bench against Molde.

It was a mixed day for the Arsenal academy, with the u18s pulling off a comeback win but the u23s losing in bizarre circumstances despite a Nikolaj Möller debut goal.

A few Arsenal players made a positive impression in the u21 win on Tuesday night, including a couple of long-term absentees returning to the side.

Arsenal have their sights set on the signing of 17-year-old Sevilla youth midfielder Antonio Zarzana, according to reports in Spain.

James Hillson and Joel Lopez are both in Arsenal’s Europa League A-list, despite not having made their senior debuts, and the reason why is pretty straightforward.

Arsenal have handed professional contracts to three youngsters – Ben Cottrell, Joel Lopez, and James Hillson who arrived on loan from Reading and has now signed a permanent deal.