As a first year scholar under Steve Bould, he scored 11 in 13 in 2008/09 and an impressive 24 in 21 in 2009/10 season. It was at this point that Afobe along with Chuks Aneke were invited to train with Barcelona with a view to signing for the Spanish giants. Now I think we can safely assume that if Barca wants you then you must have something about you. Thankfully Wenger convinced the pair, described by Bould as two of the most talented players he has ever seen, to sign professional terms with the Arsenal.
Afobe’s goal scoring exploits have not been confined to domestic competition, as the youngster was instrumental in the England Under-16 team’s triumph in the 2008 Victory Shield Tournament. The tournament saw Afobe match Michael Owen’s record of 4 goals in the annual tournament, with a sumptuous display of finishing. For the England Under-17’s, who he helped win the European Championship in May 2009, he scored an impressive 11 in 23, only to better this ratio, scoring 4 in 4 for the Under-19’s in 2010.
His impressive form for the Under-18’s saw him break Wilshere’s record and become the youngest every Arsenal player to appear for the reserves. However, Benik only made two substitute appearances for Neil Banfield’s side before being loaned out to League 1 title challengers Huddersfield for the whole of last season. I imagine that a player going straight on loan without any real reserve team experience is virtually unprecedented, but Lee Clark had done his homework and was well rewarded. The Terriers fans took Afobe to their hearts immediately when he scored twice on his debut in a Yorkshire derby win over Rotherham. By the end of the season he had notched 5 in 28, but was played wide for much of the season, covering for an injured Anthony Pilkington. If that name rings a bell it is because Pilkington is now playing Premier League football with Norwich City and being mentioned by some as an outsider for England. This certainly proves that if you are good enough you can step up two divisions and perform on the highest stage, as we have also seen with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Anyway, I have written enough about this incredible talent that is Benik Afobe, and if he is fit and has played some reserve team games by March, I sincerely hope that he and not Marouane Chamakh can step up and play understudy to Robin van Persie. The last player to break all the scoring records through the ranks with us was Andy Cole, so let’s not make the same mistake again.
I will leave you with a suberb Youtube compilation of Benik’s career to date for club and country. I for one do not wish to see a big-name signing cause this lad to consider his future at the club. This lad is not Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who we could afford to lose; this lad is the real deal – fast, two-footed, skilful and great in the air.
Benik Afobe along with Wilshere should be the spine of our team in the future and just perhaps that future is sooner than we think.
Enjoy this video of the next Arsenal superstar.
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Think you’ve hit the nail on the head, I am pretty sure Thierry Henry’s short term loan at the club is a mixture of giving the players a boost and also to keep players happy aswell. I think it will see the likes of Afobe and The Ox benefit from having someone at the club like Thierry Henry.
benik’s partnership with rhodes at huddersfield was superb and rhodes is ripping it up again this season and has forced his way into the scotland squad.
i think we should go for hazard rhodes and podolski as well as henry
sell chamakh, park, arshavin, bendtner, vela, murphy
I see west Ham have just had a bid for Rhodes knocked back. He will step up but not for Arsenal as we not only have Afobe but also Joel Campbell to return next year.
it seems you forgot also another winger we do have who is Ryo.
We have so many good wingers (potential ones maybe) but they are good.
Henry is here to back up RVP if anything happen to him and also to rest him when we play too many games..
Agree on Henry and pleased with decision and yes he will be able to back up RVP centrally or slot in for Gervinho. Would rather see AOC or Benayoun ahead of Ryo on left tho. Not sure whay you rasied point on Ryo thios as Afobe is an out and out striker and I hope he will step up to cover for RVP and is not a winger.
Will henry be able to help us get into top 4 at his present state ?. Is he the solution we are talking about ?
No Joe I am talking about Afobe as my preferred long term solution but yes I think Henry coming off the bench even at 34 will be more effective than Chamakh. After Feb when Gervinho is back I also feel he can cover central role when RVP needs a break. I am very confident of a top 4 finish with 2 of our world class players returning in late Jan or early Feb.
With Podolski he can play wide left at times like he has for national team and still be cover for RVP in centre. Why not an attack of
podolski RVP walcot
wilshire Arteta
song
and then add Gervinho to the mix after the african cup
Liam that is a good shout. I guess I am just a traditional gooner who would love to go back to the days when we won leagues with all our own talent. Did it with Adams, O’Leary, Hayes, Thomas, Davis, Rocastle, Quinny and Merse so I would love to do it again with the likes of Schezza, JW19, Afobe, Aneke, Le Coq and Bartley. Sentimenatl claptrap I know but I can dream. Mary my words on Afobe tho. he will make it with us or we will regret it.
Yes me to with the youngsters but Podolski would help with this. Afobe will be great but he is not ready to fill RVP in injured but he should get chance ahead of Chamakh park and Bendtner and should get chance to play with RVP
What you seem to forget is Podolski is equally adept at LW. He has played most of his games for Germany at LW.
I am not forgetting mate but we were not talking about that position and he does not play there for Cologne. Why spend £26 million on AOC and Gervinho if you intend to but another winger for £25 million.
I will not be upset if we buy Podolski as an alternative to RVP but I just want our own talent to get a chance to shine.
Henry can be a real help with the likes of Benik. Just like RVP said in an interview that before the QPR match, Thierry was helping Coquelin! I feel TH should come back to Arsenal even after in some capacity… maybe coaching cause his experience would be great help.
Really love this article Mr Seager. Unlike most Arsenal fans, I really feel that we don’t need any new additions…not because we’re perfect the way we are, but we would need to sell and/or be plagued by long-term injuries in key positions (such as fullback right now). Despite Chamakh’s poor form, as long as he’s an Arsenal player, it would be pointless to buy (more so now that the King’s return is imminent). But yet another reason why I feel this way is as you’ve said: ‘Benik Afobe.’ The moment a Podolski or Rhodes comes in, the less chance this guy has to play more minutes and prove his potential.
RK Thanks. If you like this I did a follow p on same thene on Gunnersphere today. Check it out.