Former Tottenham and USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel is reluctant to fully back John Eustace's call that Auston Trusty can make it at Arsenal.
The former Colorado Rapids defender signed for the Gunners last season and upon arriving in the summer was shipped out on-loan to Eustace's Birmingham City.
With little expectation around the 24 year-old, Trusty has proved a revelation at St Andrew's so far this term, establishing himself as an ever-present in Eustace's XI.
Such has been his impact, that Eustace has declared he expects the American to prove himself a regular for Arsenal in the future.
For Friedel, however, Trusty still has a challenge ahead of him if he's to find a place in manager Mikel Arteta's plans. However, having worked with Trusty as a young player, he is wishing only the best for the USA U23 international.
Speaking to Tribalfootball.com on behalf of OLBG, Friedel says: "Auston is someone I coached, and I think he's a great kid, he's one of those players that you want to see do really well.
"He turns up every day in training with a smile on his face and works hard, so I'm delighted that he's doing so well at Birmingham. To make a comment that he's definitely going to be an Arsenal player, I think those are questions for Mikel Arteta.
"All I can tell you is what I know about him and what Mikel Arteta would get.
"He'll get an honest day's work no matter what, he'll get a player who's really good in the air and physically competitive. He's a very good one v one defender, it's not easy to turn him.
"He's left footed which is helps a lot because there's a lack of left footed centre backs.
"If you play with three at the back, he can play on that left-hand side or in the centre. If you play with four, he can play left centre back or even at left-back he can fill in, so he's quite versatile."
Friedel admits for the player's attitude and application, he hopes Trusty can reach the top with his parent club.
He added: "He's in this group of players that I've coached that if any of them make it to the top, then I'd like it to be him.
"He's such a good guy so I hope he becomes an Arsenal player if that's what he wants and if he can displace somebody in a team that's doing really well.
"I think he's one of those players who deserves any sort of accolades, contracts or trophies because he's a great all-round kid."
