Advertisement

Who is Josh Robinson? Arsenal wonderkid named on bench for PSG Champions League clash

Josh Robinson has been named on the bench for Arsenal against Paris Saint-Germain
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Josh Robinson has been named in the Arsenal senior squad for the very first time ahead of their Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. The 19-year-old, who can play at right-back or centre-back, has featured prominently for the Gunners at Under 21s level.

After impressing for Mehmet Ali's side, Robinson has now been handed a chance with the first-team against PSG. Mikel Arteta has selected him on the bench, with Jack Porter, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Maldini Kacurri, Ethan Nwaneri, and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji the other academy graduates among the substitutes.

Neto, Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Mikel Merino, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus are also on the bench, with Mikel Arteta naming an unchanged starting XI from the side that beat Leicester 4-2 on Saturday. It means there is still no place in the squad for Ben White after he missed out against the Foxes.

Arteta has youth and experience in his Arsenal squad against PSG, with Robinson the latest Hale End graduate to be given an opportunity to rise from the U21s. The defender has been excellent for the younger age groups throughout the last couple of years, and has started this season in fine fettle.

Robinson has scored twice in six appearances this term. He netted in the 2-1 win over Leyton Orient in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy last month and also found the back of the net against Aston Villa in Premier League 2. His last game came in a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool - where he played 85 minutes - on Friday.

It remains to be seen whether Robinson will feature as the Gunners bid to secure their first Champions League win of the season. Arteta's side were held to a 0-0 draw against Atalanta in their first league phase fixture and have the chance to get their first three points on the board against PSG.

READ MORE: Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice to get unstoppable new Arsenal partner in latest Mikel Arteta boost

READ MORE: Arsenal defender William Saliba sends wordless message after emotional announcement

Speaking ahead of the fixture, Arteta said: "Everybody is looking forward to it. We missed it for a number of years, and last year was the first one after so many years that we had the experience to do it.

"The group stage is a bit different this season and the opposition we are going to face tomorrow is probably at the highest level that you can face in European football. But honestly, it’s a good opportunity for us to see how we deal with these nights, how prepared we are and how we can impose ourselves in this kind of context."