Chuba Akpom has joined Isaac Hayden on loan at Championship side Hull City for a season-long loan and the young striker seems excited at the chance to show what he can do at senior level:
“I’m really happy to be here and it’s great to be able to sign for a club like this with the aim of gaining more experience,” he said. “The manager (Steve Bruce) has been really welcoming and I’m really looking forward to helping this club to push for promotion.”
Akpom, who has previously had short loan spells with Brentford, Coventry City and Nottingham Forest, totaling 26 appearances, went on to say:
“I feel as though this is a really massive opportunity for me because it’s set to be my first full season out on loan. I’ve had loan spells before, but they have just been for a month with a few games played.
“It’s going to be good to be here from the start. I went to watch the lads against Sheffield United on Sunday and everybody is raring to go for the season so hopefully we can all have a good one.”
19-year-old Akpom (20 in October) has already made nine senior appearances for Arsenal, and is an England U20 international. His pre-season highlights this summer include a hat-trick against a Singapore Select XI in the Barclays Asia Trophy last month.
“When you play alongside world class players it just makes you want to be as good as them,” added Akpom.
“I feel that this loan move will only help to make me stronger and better as a player and add to my experience.
“The Championship is a really hard league. It’s physical, technical and a really fast division. It can be a hard league to get used to, but with the players that we have here and the experience that they have it should help me and make it easier to settle.”
Nor will it hurt to have his long-time Arsenal and England Youth colleague Isaac Hayden to share the ups and downs of a Championship season far away from home:
“I’ve played with Isaac for a number of years now and it’s nice that he’s already here as it will help me to settle down,” continued Akpom. “We’re from the same club, we play for the same England team and he is a very good player. We’re very familiar with how each other plays and it’s great that we’ve both come here at more or less the same time.”
Akpom trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Tuesday morning, and looks forward to Saturday’s Championship opener against Huddersfield Town at the KC Stadium.
“I’m really looking forward to Saturday. A lot of people have told me how good the atmosphere and the fans are at the KC so hopefully we can get off to a good start.”
Although some have commented on the twitters that they would have liked to see our boys loaned to Premier League sides, it would seem the priority has been to place them in clubs in which they are more likely to see time on the pitch.
Here’s hoping our 2 young Gunners can help Steve Bruce and Hull achieve some real success this season while they come on in leaps and bounds themselves.
Good luck Chuba!
I hope he makes it. This is his last chance.
I know, right? Just like that Coquelin, he turned 20, had his last chance, didn’t have a great break out season and then…. Oh wait.
After the previous 8, it is this cat’s last.
Do – or die.
Lol.
It must be a relief for Hull fans to see more Gooners coming their way to try to get them back up, rather than the collection of Spuds that took them down a division…
Looool agreed!!!.
Wenger sees something in him and I recon if he starts scoring he may take off. Good luck son.
Not just Wenger – it’s pretty obvious that Akpom is a massive talent waiting to bloom. His movement, pace, power, everything’s there. Boy just needs to find his golden boots.
We need to stop placing our faith in overrated English strikers. This kid doesn’t have a future at Arsenal.
Lol, at you.
TW*T alert.
Good luck to them and Hull.
Good luck to the lad, hopefully you’ll be able to use the same headline at the end of the season!
Chuba’s 57 goals fire Hull straight back into the premier league, and hey-presto everyone can STFU about signing a “world-class stricker”. 😉
… jesus christ man
Akpom and Hayden both have serious potential (and are english) a championship loan is perfect for them both to get more game time
Hull city have Jelavic, Abel Hernendez, Bdoye, and Aluko, all international players. It is hard to see him getting much playing time ahead of any even though they are all average Strikers and especially as Akpom has never scored a senior goal. He will have to hit the ground running as soon as the season starts or the loan could be a waste of time.
Agree, regrettably. I have watched/followed Dame N’Doye for some years in Copenhagen and he is very skillful although he lacks speed imo. He has played big games in the CL and won the League more than once. Most managers tend to rate experience over exuberance so it will not be easy. Really hope he will make the most of the opportunities/game time when he is given the chance!
Come on Chubs! You’ve got what it takes. Come back after this loan and stake your spot.
oh! What a burden on isaac and Chuba .. They’ve been sent to clean up another spurs mess.