Chuba Akpom joined Brighton on loan yesterday for the remainder of the season, and while Championship loans can often be to mid-table sides, this one is very different.
The Seagulls are gunning for promotion to the Premier League, and currently sit top of the table after 27 games.
It means that the Arsenal youngster is going to have to meet high standards for Chris Hughton’s side, a challenge he seems ready for at this stage of his career.
“The team is flying high sitting top of the league and you can see that they’ve got the winning mentality and are playing the right football,” he told their official site.
“I just want to be a positive addition to the team and help boost the side to promotion.”
Brighton tend to play a 442, something Akpom is looking forward to.
“It’s always good to play with another striker, you can bounce off each other and there’s more support than usual,” he continued.
“There’s always going to be competition and it keeps the team strong. They’re all experienced players and they know how to play in this league. It’s going to be good to learn from them, and we’ve all got something different to offer.
“The main thing for me now is impress the boss here and show my teammates and the fans what I can do.
“That’s my main aim.”
The 21 year is at a point in his career where he really needs to kick on, hopefully he can do that with regular football and by scoring goals which will help his loan side into the Premier League next season.
The talent is there, fingers crossed he can show that.
Seems very mature in his interview with Brighton. Hopefully he’s grown a bit mentally and is ready to deliver his best. Would be great if we could produce a top class striker
Brighton definitely “gunning for promotion”. Nice one! I think Akpom can make a real difference there, a classy signing for the seasiders from Sussex. Hope they make it, too.
Really hope he does well. This move will be make or break for his Arsenal career.
Really looking forward to seeing him at the Amex. I go to more Brighton games nowadays than Arsenal games, primarily because of ticket prices and I can actually get tickets for the away games! He should compliment Glenn Murrays aerial presence and strength perfectly (or Hemed who is quite similar in style to Murray), add the pace missing from our strike force and should enjoy himself with Knockaert and March supplying him with their brilliance from the wings. Our threat going forwards is miles better than Hulls boring football under Bruce last season, so he should thrive and will have… Read more »
Watched Chuba in the youth & reserve u23 team . A few years ago I ear marked I thought he would make it at arsenal … However hes not progressed … No real opportunity through injury & poor loans . Can’t see where he would fit in our squad . I feel he lacks the strength & physicality to play in the premier league . But the championship is a good test . Hopefully he can kick on , make impress enough to play in the cups for us next season or get a good loan move to keep improving
Worth bearing in mind that Loftus Cheek is the same age at Chelsea- so he’s got time to develop. Seems Arsenal youth players get put under greater pressure than other PL clubs