Big Blow: Wenger in trouble, Arsenal striker confirms he wants to leave
Aug 31, 2016 at 9:37 AM
Arsenal striker Chuba Apkom could be leaving on another loan spell to Championship after admitting that Championship offer greater opportunities and experience than reserve team.
The 20-year old is one of the hottest prospects of Arsenal youth team and Arsene Wenger is keen on the development of Akpom as striker is one of the positions Arsenal always lacked a genuine goalscorer over the past decade.
The player was expected to play in Arsenal season opener against Liverpool as regular striker Olivier Giroud was not available and Serge Gnabry was playing in Rio games. However, Wenger chose to go for winger Alexis Sanchez as his target man where the Gunners lost 4-3 to Liverpool.
The player was subsequently dropped from the squad for the next two league matches with the arrival of Giroud. The signing of Lucas Perez meant he will not be breaking into the first team this season and a loan move would be ideal for the exciting prospect.
Akpom has featured in U-23 team and have scored a goal in Arsenal’s 3-1 loss to Liverpool. He has spent last season on loan at Hull and believes that a similar loan will help in his development.
“I think that obviously reserve football and first team football is a big difference,” he told the Arsenal website.
“The Championship is tough, playing games week in week out and experiencing it is a good experience. I think that any player, if you go out on loan and get as many games as possible you’re going to come back experienced and I think I have.”
Chuba Akpom will need to complete the loan deal before the end of transfer window as Championship clubs cannot exploit an additional emergency loan window like previous seasons.