Who is Julio Pleguezuelo? Arsenal starlet given first team debut against Blackpool in the Carabao Cup
The Spanish defender, who came through at Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, has received a shock call-up to the first team
UNAI EMERY has made the surprise decision to include Arsenal youth team player Julio Pleguezelo in the Carabao Cup against Blackpool.
The 21-year-old will play centre-back in a much-changed XI.
Carl Jenkinson plays his first Gunners game for 701 days, while Stephan Lichtsteiner moves to left-back.
Academy graduates Emile Smith-Rowe and Ainsley Maitland-Niles also play in midfield.
Who is Julio Pleguezelo?
Julio Jose Pleguezelo Selva was born in Palma, Spain, on January 26, 1997.
The 21-year-old started out at Atletico Baleares basa a six-year-old, before moving to Espanyol.
He spent six years with Espanyol before a season in the Atletico Madrid youth team and another year at Barcelona's famed La Masia academy.
After being linked with Manchester City and Tottenham, Pleguezuelo eventually joined Arsenal in 2013.
In three years in the Arsenal youth teams, the defender established himself as a key figure.
He captained the Under-21 side during the 2015-16 campaign, leading the sie to the U21 Premier League 2 play-off final. Arsenal beat Aston Villa 3-1.
Has Julio Pleguezelo played for Arsenal before?
No, made his debut against Blackpool.
The Spaniard spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Mallorca in the Spanish second division, where he played 17 matches in total - the club were relegated.
Last season, Pleguezelo played the first half of the season in the Arsenal reserve side, before a January loan to Gimnastic.
He played 10 matches, with Gimnastic finishing in 15th, four points above relegation.
This season, he has captained Arsenal U23 in the Premier League 2.
He has played eight out of nine matches, scoring once, for a Gunners side fourth in the table.
Unai Emery has had him training with the first team this week.