An FC Copenhagen official has taken a bizarre dig at Arsenal over one of the north London side’s most exciting wonderkids.
The Gunners have seen Hale End’s production line explode into life in recent years, with Bukayo Saka a star for Arsenal and one of the best wingers in the world with Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson also part of Mikel Arteta’s senior set-up.
With the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri expected to one day become first-team players, Arsenal’s future has never looked brighter with Hale End producing some truly exceptional talents in the past few years.
And one name is starting to catch the eye more than most, yet it has since led to some weird comments.
Copenhagen official predicts Arsenal not to give Chido Obi-Martin a chance
Speaking to Tipsbladet, Copenhagen’s director of development Sune Smith-Nielsen issued a weird jab towards Arsenal that the Gunners won’t give a chance to Chido Obi-Martin, who has caught attention this season.
The Danish youth international last weekend scored seven goals in a 9-0 U-18s win for Arsenal, with Obi-Martin tearing the youth scene apart under Jack Wilshere in frantic and fantastic fashion.
Yet Smith-Nielsen has said Obi-Martin will be given a chance to play senior football at Copenhagen, unlike at Arsenal, with the Danish official saying: “He was a huge talent. He has been a huge talent since he was six years old.
“At times, he played with age groups two years older, and he has always had tremendous offensive potential. He has wild technique and fantastic physical attributes. We are very excited that he is doing so well over at Arsenal. Then he can always come to FC Copenhagen’s first team when Arsenal doesn’t give him the chance.”
Smith-Nielsen is out of line, but he’s right over Arsenal’s recent record
Smith-Nielsen’s comments might come across as bizarre and even arrogant to some supporters, but there’s a hint of truth behind what the Copenhagen official said.
Whilst Arsenal have established first-team players who came from the academy, it has been some time since we’ve seen the next big thing make a real impact and make the leap from Hale End to Arteta’s squad.
Although there are promising prospects such as Nwaneri and Obi-Martin, there’s still a hint of uncertainty over whether these youngsters will actually make the leap, with Arterta firm on who he wants in and around his team.
