Ah, pre-season. We football fans are now getting a glimpse of new signings, new kits and games in far-flung corners of the planet as the excitement builds ahead of next month’s big kick-off. Although the aforementioned newbies generate a lot of buzz and cause supporters to tune into games against opposition with questionable levels of quality at some odd times, youngsters are often commonplace in such games as managers assess their suitability and put their talents out there to attract potential loan suitors.
With Arsenal possessing a wealth of emerging starlets, some were on show as Arsene Wenger’s side battered a Singapore Select XI 4-0, and none grabbed the headlines quite like hat-trick hero, Chuba Akpom. The 19-year-old really shone for the Gunners, and, although it’s only pre-season, there’s even talk of him being a first-team player for the coming campaign… Could the risk work out? We think so, and here are FIVE reasons the teenager could be a success in 2015/16.
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Wenger has confirmed that he’ll get a chance
“He won’t be going out on loan, I sent him out on loan last year because I thought he needed that.
“But this season no, I plan to keep him with us. It’s down to performance and attitude and he has the assets to be a big talent. And, after that, to be an efficient player week in week out, that’s the target.”
Pretty clear from Wenger (speaking above). Following Akpom’s three goals against the Singapore Select XI in the Barclays Asia Trophy, the Frenchman waxed lyrical about his youngster, and although one could accuse him of getting caught up in the moment, the Asian side are hardly giants of the game, surely the previous 90 minutes had not been tide-turning.
With pace and power in abundance, the 19-year-old looks to have the tools to at least be a respectable back-up in the Premier League, which may be in Wenger’s thinking.
Akpom is confident
Akpom himself was similarly overjoyed with the performance as his side romped to the 4-0 win:
“I’m just hoping I can carry on my form for the rest of the pre-season and take it into the season.
“You’ve got to give 100 per cent because you don’t get this chance often, so when you get it you have to make the most of it.
“Hopefully the boss has seen that I’ve been working hard in training, that I’ve been working hard on the pitch, and hopefully I can get more game time in the season.
“I’ve been at Arsenal since I was six years old, so that’s a few years and I really want to stay here.
“This season could be a big season for me and with a lot of hard work it could be a breakthrough season for me.
“The main thing is to stay here and I think the loans have helped me gain experience. I’m just getting better every time.”
Such claims show that the teenager is brimming with confidence, which he will certainly need if he is to make the step up. Other young players such as Raheem Sterling have thrived with minutes and taken the hurdle of breaking into the senior set-ups of their clubs in their stride, so with the right attitude and commitment, Akpom could do the very same.
Knows where the goal is
Despite the caveats of it being a pre-season game against a poor side, Akpom did all he could do. After all, you can only beat what’s in front of you, and the 19-year-old was ruthless in the way he took his three goals against the Singaporeans.
Although he was less than prolific on loan spells with Brentford, Coventry and Nottingham Forest, Akpom has notched goals at youth level for the Gunners and even found the back of the net on the club’s pre-season tour of Asia in 2013.
Arsenal don’t have many striking options
Beyond Olivier Giroud, Arsene Wenger doesn’t possess a true centre-forward. Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez can be deployed in the role, but all three players are more comfortable in a slightly more reserved position or on the flank, while Yaya Sanogo appears to be on his way out of the club.
Unless Wenger does pull off some transfer business before the big kick-off, there’s every chance that Akpom could be the only genuine option behind Giroud.
Will surely get game time
With the lack of options Wenger has and commitments both in domestic action and Europe, there is every chance Akpom will get chances. The majority of his potential game time is likely to come in cup competitions, but should the Gunners suffer with some injuries (which has happened a lot), he could well be deployed in games of genuine importance.
