Arsenal and Aston Villa will lock horns in the Premier League on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing Gunners hosting Unai Emery’s Champions League-chasing Villans.
Arsenal will be hoping to maintain momentum at the top of the table, with both Liverpool and Manchester City snapping at their heels.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa will be desperate to get back into the top four after drawing with Brentford last Saturday, which saw Tottenham go fourth the next day.
Despite there being so much at stake, there’s a great chance we’ll see some niceties between two players on opposite sides.
Not only are they cousins, but one of them has just penned a new professional contract at Aston Villa. And his relative has already congratulated him on social media.
The player in question is Villans academy graduate Finley Munroe, cousin of Arsenal star Declan Rice.
What has Arsenal star Declan Rice said to Aston Villa talent Finley Munroe?
On Friday, Villa announced that the 19-year-old had penned a new professional contract at the club. This is in wake of his great progress this term.
Munroe has featured regularly for the Under-21s this term. He was also named among the substitutes for their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in January.
The young defender took to Instagram to say he’s “delighted to have signed a new deal” at Villa and that he’s “looking forward to the future”.
In the comments, the Gunners midfielder wrote: “Proud of you cuz.”
It’s always great to see a talented youth player get a professional contract. And no doubt Rice will congratulate Munroe in person if he travels down with the Villa contingent on the day.
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