Arsene Wenger believes that Arsenal youngster Chuba Akpom is nearly ready to make the step-up to the side’s first-team.
Arsene Wenger believes that Arsenal youngster Chuba Akpom is close to being ready to make the grade at the Emirates Stadium.
Akpom is still developing as a player and has been sent out on loan in recent seasons, but Wenger has hinted that he sees a first-team future for him.
The experienced French manager says that Akpom has really improved in-front of goal and explained that he simply needs to become more tactically adept before he can be given a first-team place.
“I’m happy that he has developed as a goalscorer, because when he was a younger kid, his problem was finishing,” Wenger said to the official site.
“That has gone now. He’s a very good finisher and he has now to learn the tactical side of his game. Then he will be ready, because he is a huge talent.”
Akpom’s only first-team experience in his burgeoning career to date has been for Brentford and Coventry City and he is still yet to hit the back of the net.
The 18-year-old made his debut for the Gunners last year against Sunderland and has been identified as a future star for the club for some time.
Blessed with pace and strength, Akpom has all the characteristics to make a success of himself at the Emirates, but it appears he still needs to be refined as a player before he makes the step-up.
That might not be too far off, but he will have some competition for places in the first-team at Arsenal.
Danny Welbeck will be hard to displace up-front, whilst Olivier Giroud and Yaya Sanogo also provide Wenger with more experienced options in forward positions.
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