Arsenal Clinging To Hope With Chuba Akpom

Arsenal still have time to maximize the potential of young Chuba Akpom, and that possibility is only boosted by the faith of his countryman.

It’s no secret that Chuba Akpom’s stock has fallen dramatically in the past couple years. The young Nigerian/English striker was supposed to be the future of the striker position at Arsenal. There was so much invested in him that Arsene Wenger didn’t even bother to surround him with competition.

In the 2014/15 season, Akpom made a few cameos for Arsenal, but nothing out of the ordinary. He was getting his first taste of top-tier football and the nerves were clearly there.

I would say that his first touch was about as nerve-laden as Alex Iwobi’s was when he first touched down with the senior squad. Safe to say that balanced itself out.

The problem was this past season. It was a crucial year for Akpom and one that could have been spent under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger, but instead he went off to Hull City where he wilted out of his starting role and never amounted to much.

It was as shame, but one that can still be made up for.

The key to Chuba Akpom’s continued development is support and patience. I have to remind myself at times that he is still 20. There is no great rush to get him into Premier League action. But then again, with Donyell Malen bearing down and the competition in the EPL only intensifying, there kind of is.

I would wager that the best thing for Akpom to do at this point is mimic Alex Iwobi. Join the Nigerian National team and leave the English behind. It’s no secret that Iwobi seemed to exponentially grow when he had made the switch to his native Nigeria and if that is any indication of what would happen to Akpom, it’s time to do so. I hope this doesn’t sound like heresy, but England is no great bastion of football power. Success can be found elsewhere.

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Thankfully, Akpom is finding his support base and, go figure, that base is in Nigeria. Former Arsenal striker Kanu has vowed that Akpom will still be great. Kanu spent years in Thierry Henry’s shadow, but there are many that say Arsenal would never have reached the heights they did with that team without Kanu’s services. Henry himself said that.

In that regard, and with the fast progress of Donyell Malen, I could see Akpom becoming the Kanu to Malen’s Henry.

This is a huge year for Akpom. I have been saying this for awhile. He will have opportunities with Arsenal. Absolutely he will. Welbeck is hurt, Walcott is irrelevant; it’s just Olivier Giroud at the moment. And even if (hopefully ‘when’) Wenger brings in another striker, there will be room for Akpom to make a difference as the third striker.

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Combine that with the sage leadership of Kanu and a switch to Nigeria and there may still be hope for Akpom to make it as a top striker with Arsenal.

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