Omari Hutchinson has long been seen as a player with much potential and the hype surrounding the 17-year-old certainly seems to be justified.
Yesterday, for instance, Hutchinson produced an impressive display as Arsenal U18s edged past their Reading counterparts with a 4-3 away victory.
Hutchinson scored twice, including a late penalty, to take his tally for the season to six goals, while he has also provided seven assists.
Earlier this season Hutchinson made the bench for an U23 fixture against Everton, but he is still awaiting his debut at that level.
However, with the likes of Kido Taylor-Hart and George Lewis featuring at that level and Reiss Nelson also being drafted in for some fixtures, Hutchinson has found it difficult to break into the U23 setup, despite the quality that he possesses.
Next season the situation should change somewhat as Hutchinson will hope to feature for the older age group and potentially also start to become involved with the first-team squad.
The youngster’s versatility is a useful asset – he usually plays on the right wing but is also capable of operating on the left flank, as an attacking midfielder or at left-back.
Hutchinson’s flair and free-kicks have caught the eye this season and he is also tactically aware. It just appears to be a matter of time before opportunities come his way.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
If the Balogun saga has taught us anything it’s that we have to show these youngsters that they have a clear roadmap to the first team. This lad is special and needs to be constantly progressing at the club. I sincerely hope he makes the bench for preseason friendlies this summer and gets a few cheeky league cup games under his belt. If Fab was doing it at 16, then what’s to say a few of these other lads can’t make the jump? You only know if they are ready by playing them and no ones going to begrudge Arteta… Read more »
Very similar to a certain Foden, don’t you think? But what you are talking about pathway is exactly right. And we did not show the Salibas, the Nelsons, and so on those paths. Does someone think that our academy was all shit the last few years and now that we struggle, we see talents all over the place? But we should give them (and Omari atleast) a chance. Maybe he will be our new saviour in two years or so. The CAM position looks to be one of our strongest positions in the academy. Hopefully we will never get into… Read more »
Remember reading about this kid years ago and thinking whatever happened to him. Glad he is making his way through the ranks. Keep going kid.
Well it’s good to know there’s more to him than just the flicks and tricks.
yesss..We nearly there..one for the Near future..cant wait see him debut for 1st team…rememberin how I clock him from day one..Mad ting..
I watched the highlights of that match yesterday. He looked good in that short video.
You can’t really judge anything on the basis of edited highlights, though. None of his teammates looked up to the task of senior football, based on those highlights, but equally that is probably not the case in reality.