Chuba Akpom has joined Nottingham Forest on loan until the end of the season to gain some more first team experience.
Akpom who has recently just signed a new deal at Arsenal boasts an incredible scoring record for the youth sides of Arsenal and made his U18’s debut at the age of 15. In the 13/14 season Akpom scored 15 in 21 and has scored 9 in 11 this campaign as well as featuring in the first team.
Akpom has a lot of potential and hopefully this loan move can get him the football he needs. This comes after a complex loan deal with Coventry last year which saw him play for the Sky Blues at the weekend and Arsenal in midweek which meant his training schedule was constantly disrupted.
Promoted to the first team this year and 3rd choice in January, Akpom has come on leaps and bounds. More importantly he has made an impression to all Arsenal fans when he has been given minutes by Wenger. Akpom looked like he would score against Villa and had a good chance against Brighton.
Nottingham Forest had to fight off competition for Akpom’s signature as Norwich, Derby, Middlesbrough and Bournemouth all wanted to take the young striker on loan. However it is clear to see that Akpom just wants game time or else he may have gone to a club such as Middlesbrough who are bringing young players on well at the moment. Although, Nottingham Forest do have a good record of bringing through young players which is evident by the emergence of Osborn, Darlow and Lascelles in recent years.
Akpom has recently spoken about the influence of Tomas Rosicky in this month’s Arsenal Magazine. It was clear to see that Akpom just wants to learn which signals that he has a very good attitude. Akpom had the following to say;
“The one thing he always tells me is to always be moving, so you make a movement and if you don’t get the ball you then make another move to ensure you are available.”
“He also encourages me to mix my game up: to take a few touches here, then the next time to take one touch and then spin away. He knows what he is talking about, he’s world class so it’s great to learn from these types of players.”
“When I look around and see the likes of him and Mesut Ozil… these are people you play on Fifa with, that you watch on TV, so for me to be in the changing room with them… it’s amazing.”
Overall, this should be a good move for Akpom and hopefully he can come back and compete for a place next year in the first team squad. Akpom only has to look at recent loanee Francis Coquelin to see what can happen.
