Former Sunderland youngster Mason Cotcher has been impressing while on trial with Arsenal, he’s been training with the first team.
Sunderland’s youth academy has been producing some real gems recently with the likes of Chris Rigg and Tommy Watson currently coming through while Dan Neil is a recent graduate in his own right.
However, many prospects who are coming through do get lured away by top Premier League sides, and now this has happened with a player who departed Sunderland man Mason Cotcher who departed the club in the summer.
Cotcher was linked with interest from multiple clubs after he left the Academy of Light, with clubs like Rangers and Arsenal interested.
Since leaving Sunderland he has now found himself on trial with Premier League giants Arsenal who seem destined to sign him to a proper contract given he appears to be valued highly by Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta clearly likes Mason Cotcher
Arteta is clearly a fan of the 17-year-old as he has already given him a huge honour, not many players that age, let alone a trialist get. Cotcher has been introduced into first-team training for The Gunners which makes losing the forward during the summer even more of a blow.
The Englishman joined Arsenal initially in October on the trial and now he seems to be a player Arsenal won’t be keen on letting go. The Telegraph reported that he had been included in Arteta’s first-team training plans which could indicate how highly thought of he is.
It could also represent that Arsenal were keen to push the youngster in order to see what he is capable with before making an ultimate final decision on whether to sign him.
Cotcher has now been at Arsenal for over a month which should suggest he will be signed, along with the fact he’s made multiple appearances for the U18s already.
Obviously to lose a player who is now about to sign with one of the country’s biggest teams is a sore loss, and it’s possible more could’ve been done to convince the youngster to remain at the club. With so many struggles currently up front for Sunderland, he probably would have been much closer to a first-team appearance here.