Arsenal youngster Chuba Akpom is ‘hungry’ to become a first-team regular for the Gunners – but has he any chance?
The 19-year-old forward made only his second appearance of the season for the Gunners on New Year’s Day, coming on as a late sub in their 2-0 loss to Southampton.
Akpom has impressed for the Under-21 side, scoring nine goals in as many goals, but the youngster believes he is ready to make the breakthrough and hopes Wenger sees his potential:
‘I’m really feeling part of the team.
‘I’m starting to train with them a bit more and I’m getting more of a feel about how it is to be on the bench.
‘I’m just dying to get on every game and every minute counts.
‘I try my best to make the most of each opportunity that I get, so when I went out there I just gave 100 per cent.’
He added:
‘Every game I’m hoping to get an opportunity – I just want to play. I’m hungry for it now.
‘I want to show the boss what I’m made of and I think that I’m ready. I think I can have a good impact on the team. Hopefully I get a chance.’
Akpom has been at Arsenal for almost 13 years. During this time, he has had loan spells at Brentford and Coventry City – making a combined total of 10 appearances – and has recently been placed on the bench for the Gunners this season.
Clearly, Wenger sees some potential in the teenager. But has he got a realistic chance of starting for Arsenal? I don’t believe so.
It’s very hard to see how and where he will feature regularly for us. We have the likes of Danny Welbeck, Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott who all are in front of Akpom in the pecking order and this is why he will not feature often – not anytime soon anyway.
Arsene Wenger usually goes out and signs a forward rather than promote one from the youth ranks – I can’t remember the last time he has done this – and if you take Benik Afobe as an example, a player who has been at Arsenal since 2001 and is seen by many of the Emirates faithful as a young player with potential and boasts ability, the 21-year-old has never featured for the Arsenal in a competitive match! Despite impressive displays out on loan.
So what hope has Akpom have of starting regularly for Arsenal? I would say bob and no.
I think Akpom has a chance to start in the Gunners home FA Cup game with the Hull City Tigers tomorrow. Since Giroud is serving out the last of his 3 match ban and will not be available for this Cup tie, the possibility of Akpom starting is enhanced. Moreso if Welbeck has not fully recovered from the injury he has or the boss decided to rest him to start the Gunners home game with the Potters. Based on the changes the boss said he will make. MY GUNNERS FA CUP STARTS: (Ospina)(DebuchyBfgKoscielnyGibbs)(FlaminiCoquelinCazorla)(WalcottAkpomSanchez) to accommodate Akpom leading the line, vasitile Sanchez has to play at the left side of the Gunners trio attack line. I think this my starts will convince the boss. Because I can see the starts caged the Tigers and picked their targets among them and gunned them down. What! What are you saying? I am a genuine commenter. I am not a spam and I will never be one. Type my names on Google and search me out.