Mikel Arteta promotes 18-year-old Catalin Cirjan to first-team training permanently as attacking midfielder ‘confidently’ waits for Premier League debut with Arsenal languishing in 15th
- Arsenal’s 18-year-old Catalin Cirjan has made the breakthrough to senior ranks
- The midfielder has been promoted to first-team training by boss Mikel Arteta
- The Gunners have made a dismal start to the 2020-21 campaign and are in 15th
Arsenal’s 18-year-old central midfielder Catalin Cirjan has made the breakthrough to the club’s first team.
The teenager, who made the move to the Emirates from Viitorul Domnesti based in Romania and signed his first professional deal with the Gunners in December 2019, has been promoted to first-team training by manager Mikel Arteta.
‘From today, he will train daily only for seniors, he is confidently waiting for his debut in the Premier League,’ his agent Catalin Sarmasan told Metro.
Arsenal’s 18-year-old midfielder Catalin Cirjan (front) has made breakthrough to first team
The teenager has been promoted to first-team training by Gunners manager Mikel Arteta
The representative also wrote on his Twitter page on Monday night: ‘Happy to confirm @CirjanCatalin1 is now officially part of Arsenal’s first team squad.
‘He’s got a fantastic progress ahead of him. He’ll work hard and achieve his dreams! Good luck, Cata! I’m proud of you!’
Cirjan also uploaded a picture onto Twitter of himself getting down to work with Arteta’s first team on Monday.
Cirjan’s agent confirmed the youngster had made the step up on social media on Monday
Fellow youngsters Miguel Azeez (L), Flo Balogun (C) trained alongside Cirjan on Monday
The youngster has regularly posted on social media in recent weeks as he made the transition Arsenal’s Under 23 and U18 sides but now the move to the senior ranks has been confirmed.
Cirjan, who is yet to make his first-team debut, is predominantly a central midfield player but can also play out wide.
Arsenal have been severely lacking creativity behind the frontline this season as they’ve made a dismal start to the 2020-21 campaign.
Arteta’s side are languishing in 15th place after making their worst start to a season since 1974-75 and the pressure is mounting on the Gunners boss.
Things don’t get any easier for Arsenal as they come up against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night before welcoming London rivals Chelsea in the league on Boxing Day.
Cirjan, who is yet to make his first-team debut, is predominantly a central midfield player
