Arsenal Invite Free Agent to Training Before Atletico Madrid Game

A former Arsenal player has been training with the Gunners ahead of their Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently top of the Premier League following their hard-fought 1-0 win away at Fulham on Saturday.

The Gunners sit three points ahead of second-placed Manchester City and four ahead of reigning champions Liverpool, who lost against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

But the games come thick and fast at this stage of the season, with the Gunners set to face Atletico in the Champions League at the Emirates on Tuesday before welcoming Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Arsenal will then return to action in the League Cup against Brighton the following Wednesday.

And Arteta will likely hand minutes to those on the fringes of Arsenal’s senior squad during this busy period.

15-year-old Max Dowman, fellow youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly, and starlet Ethan Nwaneri are among the names who will be keen to impress their manager, given the chance.

Meanwhile, another Hale End graduate is back training with the club after being released at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Striker Tyreece John-Jules spent 15 years at Arsenal but failed to make a single first-team appearance for the club.

Arsenal are training before their Champions League match tomorrow with Atletico Madrid. Only the four long-term absentees of Havertz, Madueke, Jesus and Odegaard missing. Former academy player Tyreece John-Jules training with the squad, he’s currently without a club #AFC pic.twitter.com/PPgjMZe0nF

— Alex Howell (@iamAlexHowell) October 20, 2025

During his time in north London, he was loaned out six times – to Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town and Derby County – before making a permanent transfer to League Two - then in League One - side Crawley Town.

But John-Jules’ time in West Sussex was one to forget, having failed to score in his 27 appearances for the Red Devils.

As a result of his poor record, he was released by the club at the end of the 2024/25 campaign and has since been without a club.

On Monday, the forward lined up alongside Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Co after being invited to train with Arsenal in a bid to keep his fitness levels up.

As reported by Daily Cannon, the 24-year-old is close friends with Arsenal winger Noni Madueke and was reportedly in attendance at London Colney when he transferred from Chelsea in the summer.