Teenage striker Benik Afobe has revealed that at least twelve clubs are eager to take him on loan. The 18-year-old, who signed a new long-term deal at the Emirates in June, was part of Arsene Wenger’s pre-season squad against both Cologne and the New York Red Bulls but has since seen his progress stunted by a spell on the sidelines.
Eager to get fit as quickly as possible the England Youth international says he is now taking inspiration from the return of Thierry Henry and hoping he can pick up a few tips from Arsenal’s record goal scorer.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Afobe spoke in glowing terms about Henry’s influence in and around the training ground.
“Normally, for a young player, the arrival of another player in the same position would be considered a bad thing, but when that player is Thierry Henry there is no better player to learn from when you are a striker yourself.
“It has lifted the fans and everyone at the club, plus he is only here for a few months, so hopefully I can learn lots from him whilst he is here and become a better player and person for it.
Having spent the second half of last season on loan with Huddersfield Town, in a spell which earned him plaudits, Afobe is well aware that playing time is a necessity if he is to prove his worth to Arsene Wenger. Touching on whether he might again leave North London on a temporary basis, the attacker stated:
“It depends what the club want to do really and I’m not sure what the boss wants to do, but I just want to focus on getting fit first.
“My aim has always been to be break into the Arsenal first team because that is what I have wanted to do for the past ten years, but if the boss wants me to go out on loan for a few months then that would be good too.
“Personally, I’d love to stay here at Arsenal because you learn so much from the first-team regulars on a daily basis, but we’ll see how things go when I’m fully fit.
“A lot of teams have been asking when I’ll be fully fit again, including around ten Championship clubs and Glasgow Rangers, plus a Premier League team, but I won’t be going anywhere just yet due to my injury.
“It has been a very frustrating time for me this season, but hopefully I can make up for lost time when I’m fully fit again.”
While criticism has been aimed in the direction of Marouane Chamakh and confusion enveloping the status of Ju Young Park, it’s sometimes easy to forget that the club has young strikers waiting in the wings. Afobe was nothing short of sensational during his spell in the Arsenal Youth team, while summer signing Joel Campbell will no doubt be hoping to seal a work permit ahead of next season once his loan deal at Lorient comes to an end.
You can’t help but think their combined potential may be part of Wenger’s seeming reluctance to spend big this month.
Both Afobe and Campbell are a long way off being good enough for the Premier League.
Joel Campbell scored more goals than Messi in copa america. true story
When Jordan Henderson and Downing command a combined transfer fee of 36 million pounds, it’s hard to agree with such a statement.
Thought Afobe looked very promising both at Huddersfield and against the Red Bulls. Obviously a far cry from the Premier Leaguye but he looks a fine player.
“You can’t help but think their combined potential may be part of Wenger’s seeming reluctance to spend big this month.”
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I doubt that very much. Afobe’s probably at least three years away from being ready to start in the Premier League, and that’s only if he successfully continues to develop at the rate he is.
Send him on loan again to somewhere he is guaranteed first team football, this is the sort of player we need to mould into back up for RVP looking to take over from him in a few years. Definitely has talent and a good build for the EPL.
Quite surprising to see that Rangers and a Premiership club are in for him. I would rather him go somewhere where he will get games even if it means dropping down a league
We waited for Bendtner, Denilson, Diaby, Fabregas, Clichy, Sandrose, Alumina and sort of Na$ri to develop or come good for 6 years. What happened to all of them? We went 7 years with no trophy or looking like winning one and all left!!!! Now, Can Mr Wenger tell us, how long are we going to wait for the NEW generation to develop or come good before we win (they leave)???? I sometimes feel sad for one in a life time ttalent like RVP playing next to Theo and Forehead, just as I felt sorry for Fab playing next to Denlison… Read more »
I am sure IF we bought Gotze and hazard you’ll be whining why we didn’t buy Messi and Ribery .
Forehead has been great for us ,you don’t know how those players would adapt to the league , Gervinho scored more goals than Hazard last season ,he also assisted more than Hazard last season .
who knows how Hazard would have adapted to the league has we bought him .As for gotze ,we have Wilshere ,
Now STFU and support your team
i wish almunia had left
Give the lad a break he dos’ent fuck up on purpose and with fans like you on his case when ever he played no wonder he’s nervous and fucks up, how many more would barca have scored against us in the CL final and in last years game when he came on in both and played great, at the end of the day he’s still an arsenal player so support would be nice even if he’s nit the greatest
lmfao No one really promised anyone anything at all this time. You can see the signing of Arteta, Per, Benayoun and to an extent Park clarifies this very well unless you are a blind cunt in need of a dire penetration. “Now, Can Mr Wenger tell us, how long are we going to wait for the NEW generation to develop or come good before we win (they leave)????” He can’t moron, and he didn’t. Stop assuming thing to oblivion and ruining your credibility. He made a mistake, we all see that but it doesn’t mean Wenger is going to resort… Read more »
Huh? you are not making any sense!!!!! do you normally speak just to move your tongue? I guess you only type (not have an opinion) just to insult people. I could insult you back, I just won’t go down to your level.
I’m sure the Forehead you are talking about is a very good player while Theo is still 22 and have assisted many RVP goals.
Vent somewhere else plz spud
Let’s face it, he won’t score any fewer goals than Chamakh if he was given a couple of games in the first team.
Aged isn’t so important for a striker if you have the natural movement, pace and finishing ability. He doesn’t really have to bulk up either. They feed them well at the academy it seems look… at Frimmers!
Anelka was playing regularly at 19. I can see Afobe and Campbell as the next generation strikers for the club after shipping Chamakh, Bendtner and Park this summer.
…
Is this kid still injured?
A loan spell in a tough league (the championship or the SPL) will do wonders for him.
I saw glimpses of him, and he is good. He can play the wings as well.