Chuba Akpom says he’s willing to play anywhere for Arsenal if it means he can get more first team minutes under his belt.
The striker was asked to play in a wide-attacking role during last night’s 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest, not the central position he prefers.
However, he says as long as he gets picked, he doesn’t mind.
“I think right now I’d play anywhere, I’d play in goal just to get minutes, just to be involved in the team,” he told Arsenal Player.
“I didn’t mind playing on the wing today, I’ll play anywhere the boss wants me to play, but today it was still an attacking position and I just tried to be as much of a threat as I could.”
The League Cup allows the Arsenal manager to shuffle his pack a bit, and Akpom views it as an opportunity to stake his claim to further first football.
“It’s a chance for us players to show the boss what we can do,” he continued. “The boss wants to rest a few players for the cup and it’s just for us to go out there and show everyone what we can do.
“The feeling of just going out there with an Arsenal top on and just playing is the best feeling and that’s the feeling that I want to have, so I’ve just got to keep working hard in training and keep working hard to just get out there and get as many minutes as I can.”
My respect for Chuba doubled after this, very mature comments.
With an attitude like that there’s no doubt he’ll get his chance to impress!
What a fantastic attitude. Even challenging for the goalie spot lol Good on ya Chubba.
Looks like the season playing and being on the bench for Hull, coupled with one of his best mates breaking into the team by working hard, has humbled him a bit and will help him focus.
I wasn’t impressed with the little I saw of him last season and the season before last. He seemed to think he was owed something, but I’m all for this new attitude.
Fantastic attitude, thought he played very well considering it’s not his usual position. Hopefully a favourable draw will mean he gets more minutes in the next round.
With that performance and his pre-season form, I definitely hope we see more of him this season. I think he’s up for it and ready to show what he can do.
Nice assist for Perez too. Keep it up Chuba
Akpom played the winger role with such speed, directness and aggression. It made me wonder whether playing wide might be actually be his long-term calling.
Not the first time I’ve seen it either. Dare I say he has an Henry-esque style on the wing. Kinda like Welbz does. I don’t think it’s just a tall-black-man-running-on-the-wing thing. Hehe It’s probably the pace, power and directness they show.
Ah, you got to love a lazy racial stereotype on a Wednesday afternoon.
It’s been too long since I’ve trolled the arses for me to know if that’s your usual commenting handle or if it was a special for the occasion. I’m hoping it’s the latter, fucking ace.
Reassuring to see that only 10% of people gave him the thumbs-up. The world is making progress.
He said he was motivated by his friend Iwobi moving up. Good attitude, hope he succeeds as he is a big powerful player and we can do with those if they are skilful enough.
You have to admire his spirit… just keep working hard in training lad & see things fall into place
He says “just” a lot
I guess he just does things often.
Just keep it up and the sky opens up for you.
That’s because He knows he’s close!
It’s tough I am sure for young players trying to break into the squad when you know the only way you’ll get a chance is with injuries in front of you as Bellerin, Coquelin and Iwobi over the last few years. I don’t think any really would have had much of a shot without injuries providing an opening. Young players like Chuba and the Jeff at least know that if given the chance and they show well Wenger will show faith in them and give them opportunities (unless your name is Joel Campbell).
From a point a few years back where we were totally devoid of all pace (bar Walcott), we now have a really quite scary amount of it. Walcott, Alexis, Perez, Chuba, Iwobi, Bellerin, Welbeck, Walcott, Ox. A front three of Alexis, Welbeck and Perez, with all that speed and energy, would give us some real counter attacking prowess for the trips to the big boys in Europe. More on topic, I really like this fella. Got a real tenacity in his play and get the sense he really fancies a fight to get into the team.
Dont forget Walcott
Can we play him on the wings ahead of the OX? He couldn’t do worst than the Ox is doing right now.
Why not enjoy the fact we won convincingly? Ox has been struggling with confidence but did have a decent last half hour, so is going in the right direction – he improved on the previous game – and with a bit of patience should work his way through the funk he had himself in!!
Ox is just coming back from a long injury layoff. He’ll be brilliant once he’s got his fitness and confidence back. I think us not needing to substitute him last night went a long way to help his confidence and that goal was reward for all to see.
In the first game of the season, Ox scored a solo goal and started what would have been a great comeback. You would expect a surge in confidence after that. I think it is more than confidence.
Personally think it’d do him good for Wenger to take him aside and speak with him and take him out the squad for a month or so. He’s clearly so low in confidence and it would seem he’s not the kind of player that can play through bad form- and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I think if performances like the weekend happen too frequently it’ll damage him permanently. Still think he’s got more than enough to come back and establish himself though.
Can’t argue with that Chubs!
Ox never has a poor game playing more central………
Its a conundrum
Chuba over Ox for sure. No love for the Ox
Great attitude
but queue the moronic statements with the Ox.
The Ox is a more dynamic player and one that is currently getting nonsense treatment from the usual segment of fans who siad the same with Ramsey before he started scoring, Walcott, Campbell, for the matter Bellerin.
Ridiculous.
The Ox knocks in a goal, puts in a great shift and there are some frankly who need their heads checked. No offense.:)
Yep the 5 goals he scored last season really silenced his doubters.
Perhaps the criticism is good for him, seeing what it did for the other people you mentioned?
Chuba will make the bench list a lot this season with this kind of attitude. And maybe get a few starting games as well with Wenger appearing ready to mix things up this season. I’m not surprised Giroud didn’t make the reserve list for the Hull match last weekend and Debuchy didn’t play last night either. A ruthless streak will be a required attribute to win things the season. No player should feel entitled – The Pep effect!
Giroud is injured.
Chelsea game is massive now!!!! All this momentum but with performances that have still shown some problems. This weekend might tell us a lot about what to expect this season.
I hope he doesn’t do a Theo and demand a striker role after some decent performances.
Just me or does Chuba have more than a passing resemblance to Little Richard?
Good golly miss molly….wooooooooooooooo!