Arsenal have confirmed their new scholars ahead of next season, with Chido Martin Obi not amongst them.
The speculation regarding the striker’s future has dragged on for months but it now seems as if his future lies away from the Gunners.
Martin Obi hit great heights for Arsenal U18s last season, scoring an incredible 32 goals.
However, Arsenal will now have to look to move on having seemingly lost one of their standout prospects.
With Martin Obi not involved, Arsenal U18s suddenly look a lot lighter with regards to attacking firepower.
Daniel Oyetunde is available as a second year scholar but most of the attacking players amongst the new scholars are either wingers or attacking midfielders.
Therefore, the acquisition of a new striker at U18 level could become something of a necessity for Arsenal before the season gets underway.
If nobody is signed then it is possible that Arsenal could look to promote from within given that they have some talented attacking players in their U16 setup.
With regards to the new scholars, there are some impressive players in the intake.
Goalkeepers Jack Porter and Khari Ranson have been capped by England at U16 level, while Sam Chapman, Samuel Onyekachukwu and Josh Ogunnaike will add to Arsenal U18s’ defensive depth.
Theo Julienne and Ife Ibrahim are both capable of performing effectively in midfield or at right-back.
Meanwhile, Louis Zecevic John, Alex Marciniak, Andre Annous and new arrival Ceadach O’Neill are all talented creative prospects.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
So does the first team.
Just so ludicrous to lose Obi
Why? When I was thirteen playing rugby, I had a friend called Graeme, who was 6ft 4. He could run through almost any opposition. But he was totally useless at actually playing, and by the time we were sixteen and everyone had caught up physically he was completely anonymous. Obi Martin may be the real deal, but there’s enough doubt to make his apparent financial demands a stumbling block. Young players come and young players go, and there’ll be someone better along soon!
Why?
Everybody is upset that a guy who scored 32 goals for the u18s is leaving and I get that, but to put it into a bit of perspective here are (according to transfermarkt) this is where the other 3 top goalscores in the u18 league history are: Ellis Simms (32 goals in 18/19) aged 23 playing for Coventry Oakley Cannonier (28 goals in 21/22) yet to make his debut for Liverpool aged 20 Rio Griffiths (27 goals in 17/18) aged 24 left non-league Wealdstone in January to sign for Portland Reserves in the USA. So maybe Obi will be a… Read more »
Henry used to score six in a game and be unhappy about the one he missed. Lamine Yamal’s father had his baby he wanted to become a Ballon d’Or winner in pictures with Barcelona players. Mbappe was scoring plenty of goals at age 10. Dreams do come true.
Arturo Lupoli scored 45 goals in 22 games for Parma U17s before he signed for us.
Fuck him. If he goes to Utd, may he have a long history of knee and ankle surgeries.
Don’t be too harsh on the kid. He has adults giving him advice and allow him to map his young life. Let’s not be melting on his departure because we still have Max Nwaneri MLS and Ayden to nurture.
Pathetic , wishing injuries on a 16 year old and this gets posted whilst my comments get moderated. Its only football mate, get a life.
SOMETIMES U MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE, POSSIBLE. WILSHERE SHOULD CONVERT ONE OF OUR CENTER-BACKS INTO A STRIKER AND CHALLENGE HIM THAT HE CAN DO IT. TRUST ME. BY THE SEASON’S END, YOU WILL BRING ME BACK MY ROLLING STONE.
Incredible height and ability for his age. Would have much preferred to keep him. If he has gone due to chasing the money then I hope he isn’t successful. I’m sure that we would have preferred to have kept him and he should have stayed at his boyhood club that brought him up.
Arsenal is not his boyhood club. He arrived in 2022.
We need it badly for the first team
I know a lot of people are sad to lose Chido, and he did look the business, but like Balogun before him, the club see him daily. I think by now we should have learned to trust Edu and Arteta. I’m pretty sure someone got in his ear, and whispered huge numbers we wouldn’t match for a 16 year old. His parents should look to people like Anelka and how they regretted leaving so early. Personally I cannot understand the logic of wanting to sign for United.
££££££££££££££££££££, sad.