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Nigerian youngster Chuks Aneke appears poised to finally break into the first team of Arsenal FC, the English Premiership side with the most number of fans in his country of birth.

Indications that Arsenal may unleash the 19 years old midfielder during the forthcoming season came last week when he shone brilliantly when given his opportunity during Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Asia.

Aneke, who has been with Arsenal reserves since 2001, made a strong case for himself with his injury-time winner in the team’s 2-1 exhibition win over Malaysian XI on Tuesday. One analyst called it “a superb bit of opportunism that may just mark midfielder Chuks Aneke’s march toward first-team football.”

Aneke also gave a good account of himself when Coach Arsene Wenger introduced him in the 65^th minute during Saturday’s 0-2 loss to Premier League champions Manchester City in Beijing, China. He produced some of his trade mark long-range shots and came close to scoring on at least one occasion.

Arsenal’s official website describes Aneke, who has played for England at the junior level, as “a powerful but technically-astute midfielder” who “established himself as a key member of the Reserves last season with some exciting performances.”

It further describes him as an “intelligent playmaker” who had distinguished himself in the FA Youth Cup, bagging a magnificent hat-trick against Darlington “and laying on another three in front of the watching Arsène Wenger.”

The last Nigerian to play for Arsenal was the legendary Kanu Nwankwo, who achieved great feats with the London club. Nigerian-born Beninoise Seyi Adebayo later played for The Gunners (as Arsenal is fondly called) but did not last before being sold by Wenger in connection with matters bordering on indiscipline.

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