Arsenal: Chuba Akpom a tale of caution in hope

It’s never quite happened for Chuba Akpom. Now at 22 years of age, he has never been able to establish himself at Arsenal. His tale is a caution of hope for those that come after him.

There was a period in time when I, like many others, thought that Chuba Akpom would be the next, great Arsenal striker. His form on loan with different clubs, most notably at Hull City, his goal-gluttony in the reserve and youth sides, the moments of potential that he showed in the summer preseason games. There was plenty to like.

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In the summer of 2015, Arsene Wenger had to play down the hype surrounding Akpom after he scored a hattrick, ‘Let’s not forget that today’s game is a friendly and while he is a good talent, he has to work hard and do well in the big games.’.

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That same summer, Seb Stafford-Bloor for Squawka stated that Akpom ‘should become the next great Arsenal goalscorer’, arguing that someone had failed if he did not reach such stellar heights, even given the number of factors that go into a young player’s development.

And I held the same stance. I was enamoured with his pace, the coolness of his finishing, the intelligence of his movement and the natural understanding of the striking position. But it’s never quite happened for the young centre-forward.

In fact, three summers later, Akpom is returning to north London after yet another loan, his sixth in four years, this time at Sint-Truiden in Belgium, hoping to finally establish him in the Arsenal squad. I am not sure that there are many that believe he has the ability to do so.

His myriad of loans, stemming from Brentford to Hull, has entailed a range of results. He struggled mightily at Brighton and Hove Albion, for instance, incurring the wrath of the fans with his lacklustre performances, flourished in a short time at Hull and then impressed so much at Sint-Truiden that there were suggestions earlier this year that they wanted to sign him permanently.

It remains to be seen whether Unai Emery will afford him the opportunity he requires this summer to forge a role for himself in the squad. He shouldn’t be holding his breath for one, but Emery may want to test Akpom to see if he can handle the responsibility of a reserve striking role behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

But at 22 years of age, fighting for a reserve striking role is not what anyone had anticipated. This was a sure-fire star, a ruthless goalscorer who would go on to star in the Premier League, Europe and on the international stage. None of that has come to pass. It now looks as though it never will.

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Akpom’s story, then, is a cautionary tale for those who follow. Great expectations do not lead to great realities. Akpom has discovered that and many more will follow in his footsteps.