Dutch midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup has been at Arsenal since September 1st 2008 after joining from AZ Alkmaar, and is already being tipped for big things at the North London club.
At only 19, Ozyakup is already regarded by youth team coaches as a technically gifted midfielder, who possesses great vision, dribbling skills and the ability to create goals for his team-mates.
The youngster has already managed to captain the Dutch Under-16 side, and was apart of the Under-17 side that reached the final of the European Championships in January this year.
Earlier in the year, Ozyakup announced that he would like a loan move away from the Emirates next season, in order to follow in the footsteps of Henri Lansbury and others:
‘Looking at people like Henri Lansbury and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, they all have done really well on loan. When you look at them you want to go on loan as well. I’ve spoken to Benik Afobe about it and he has told me about the added pressure, but he likes it.’
‘It helps you grow up as a player, you have to show your character and you have to be mature.’
‘It’s a different experience and you can learn to play in bigger stadiums, you have to win every game and there is always pressure.’
I believe Ozyakup has the right idea, and I totally agree with a loan move away from Arsenal next season, as it would definitely benefit his development.
I do feel that the Gunners have a gem amongst their ranks, and that the Dutch youth star will be one to look out for in the future.
He has made 12 Under-18 appearances for Arsenal in the 2009/10 season, where he scored 4 times – this is highly likely to improve as he progresses through the ranks at the club.
He is highly rated amongst the Arsenal staff, and youth guru, Gary Glessing, has in the past placed Oguzhan Ozyakup in the same class as Cesc Fabregas.
Glessing told The Times:
‘There’s an 18-year-old Dutch-Turkish central midfielder, Oguzhan Ozyakup, who reminds me of Fàbregas.’
In my opinion he is definitely one to watch for the future – let’s just hope he lives up to expectations.
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I have seen Ozzy play many times and he really needs a Championship loan or even a Div 1 team that are pushing for promotion. In fact we have many players right now in the same boat, James Shea, Ignasi Miquel, Ozzy, Conor Henderson, Luke Freeman, Gilles Sunu, Emmanuel-Frimpong, Francis Coquelin, Sanchez Watt, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Gavi Hoyte, Rhys Murphy, Benik Afobe, Carl Jenkinson, Damien Martinez, Daniel Boateng and Chuks Aneke. IMO all these are close to the first team squad, some have already had loan spells, but have yet to prove they are ready. One or two are capable of going to an EPL team but would they get enough game time? I think Kyle Bartley and Henri Lansbury have done enough to make the step up to the first team squad. Obviously it will all hinge on departures, arrivals and performances and injuries in pre-season as to where they all start the season, but there is a lot of talent there.