Krystian Bielik will play second Arsenal game on Wednesday... but he's unlikely to play in the Premier League this season
Polish midfielder, 17, was signed from Legia Warsaw in January
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Your support makes all the difference.Krystian Bielik will play his second game in an Arsenal shirt tomorrow although the Polish teenager is unlikely to play in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal paid Legia Warsaw £2million on the 17-year-old in January, but due to a delay with his qualification paperwork Bielik did not make a competitive appearance for any Arsenal side during his first five weeks at the club. Bielik was only registered late last week and made his debut for the Under-18s on Saturday, as they lost 3-1 at home to Norwich City.
Arsene Wenger confirmed at his press conference this morning that Bielik would play again tomorrow – Arsenal U-18s are playing away at Leicester City – and that he was pleased with his progress so far.
“He will play again tomorrow,” Wenger said this morning. “I am very happy [with his progress] but let’s not forget that he is 17 years old, and comes from Poland.” This means that Bielik is unlikely to make his first-team debut in the final months of this season, he was not on the Under-21 list submitted to the Premier League in early February.
“I have taken him in January more for next season, because to give a boy of 17 years old time to adapt to a competitive environment is needed,” Wenger said. “A debut this season? I don’t think that will happen.”
Arsenal’s first team travel to Queens Park Rangers tomorrow night and will have Aaron Ramsey back in the squad, three weeks after his hamstring strain – his third of the season – against Leicester City. Francis Coquelin may play in a protective mask after breaking his nose against Everton on Sunday.
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