Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has addressed Chido Obi-Martin’s ‘very unfortunate’ departure from Arsenal to Manchester United ahead of their Premier League match.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opened up about the departure of Chido Obi, a promising young striker, from Arsenal to Manchester United. The 17-year-old Obi, who was once considered one of the brightest prospects in Arsenal’s academy, made the surprising decision to leave the club last summer and join their Premier League rivals.
Arteta expressed his disappointment over Obi’s departure, describing it as “very unfortunate.” He explained that he was not heavily involved in the decision-making process and that when a player decides to leave, there is little that can be done to change their mind. “When a player decides the best pathway is to leave, there’s not much you can do,” Arteta said.
The Arsenal manager emphasized the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent from their academy and integrating them into the first team. He mentioned that the club aims to keep their academy players and help them succeed at the highest level. However, in Obi’s case, they were unable to achieve this goal. “We want to keep our players from the academy and for them to be very successful with the first team, but in this case, we were unable to do that,” Arteta added.
Obi’s departure has sparked discussions among Arsenal fans about the club’s ability to provide a clear pathway for academy players to progress to the senior team. Despite this, Arteta remains confident in the club’s approach and highlighted the success of other young players, such as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who have become key members of the squad.
Arteta acknowledged that Obi’s new team would be a challenge as Arsenal gets ready to play Manchester United in the Premier League. United has struggled in front of goal this season, and the poor form of their center-forwards has given Obi a chance to prove himself in the first team.
While Arteta regrets Obi’s departure, he remains focused on the future and the continued development of Arsenal’s young talents. The upcoming match against Manchester United will be an opportunity for both teams to showcase their abilities and for Obi to face his former club for the first time since his move.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings