Arsenal: Henry Onyekuru demands only make him more appealing

Henry Onyekuru has laid down his demands for any potential suitor: regular playing time. From an Arsenal perspective, that only makes him a more appealing option.

The development of young players is a turbulent and unpredictable venture. Rarely does it run smoothly, with the progression of players happening at different speeds and periods of their advancements. For Arsenal, thanks to Arsene Wenger’s insistent youth policy, it has been a frustration that they have suffered on a number of occasions.

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The key period that often seems to be the downfall of many prospective stars is the ‘breaking into the starting line-up’ where they are neither a fully-fledged member of the first team squad nor a young player who can be allowed to leave on loan and be given some precious starting experience elsewhere.

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That is why Henry Onyekuru’s recent comments revealing the situation he would like to enter when he signs for a new club this summer are so encouraging. With a number of different clubs interested in his services, including Arsenal, Onyekuru revealed that any prospective destination will have to guarantee significant playing time:

"“The first and most important thing for a player is to get playing time. I’m still young and I still have a long career to pursue but now I need to play. If they [potential suitors] accept our terms, then I’ll make a decision. It’s not just about going to a big club and sitting on the bench. It’s not good for me, or being loaned to a club where I won’t play or where I will struggle to play. The money can come later but for now, I just want to play to improve, not just to play for a big club.”"

Having just turned 20, it is quite feasible to envisage a scenario where Onyekuru joins a club, is unable to forge a starting role for himself during the first few years there, and is suddenly 23, and hasn’t made much progress whatsoever. The young striker undoubtedly has his head screwed on; he is aware of where he wants to be in five years’ time and knows what he must to do to get there.

That only makes him a more appealing and attractive target. While it would be naive to expect him to join Arsenal and immediately be the number one centre-forward, leading the line week in, week out, the fact that he expects to be given a fair share of the playing time shows that he has ambition and the nous and know-how to fulfil that ambition.

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Onyekuru is an enticing prospect that is well worth rolling the dice on. And if his recent comments are anything to go by, it may just be a risk that brings a rather substantial reward.