Arsenal lose potential superstar as Chido Obi-Martin leaves the club

Arsenal FC’s efforts to keep a potential superstar in Chido Obi-Martin have failed: The 16-year-old left the club after rejecting a new contract.

Obi-Martin rose to prominence following a successful season with the U18s last season, having burst into prominence following a nine-goal game against Liverpool’s U16 side. The teenage striker scored 32 goals in Premier League 2, surpassing the record for most goals in a season at that level previously held by former Gunner Folarin Balogun.

Although a promotion to the senior team next season might have been too much to ask given Mikel Arteta’s track record to date, Obi-Martin was set to play a major role in Arsenal’s youth teams and would almost certainly have been a key player for the U23s, with the prospect of potentially making his senior debut.

However, the 16-year-old was apparently influenced by offers from elsewhere and turned down the opportunity to stay in north London.

Obi-Martin’s immense talent means Arsenal will face stiff competition for his services this summer. The player’s contract with the Gunners is expiring and Arsenal have naturally offered the teenager an extension.

However, Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the young striker will leave the club as a free agent and is now weighing up his options. He is said to have received offers from England and Germany, with Manchester United one of the clubs looking.

United’s interest is well documented and Football Insider reports that the Red Devils have made a “great offer” to the young Dane. United would like to sign Obi-Martin as a professional once he turns 17.

Losing Obi-Martin to a clear rival like Man Utd would be a bitter pill for Arsenal to swallow. The truth is, however, that the Gunners have not shown their young stars a clear path to first-team minutes following the rise of Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe. The club has by no means neglected its youth ranks, but the current young stars are struggling to get first-team minutes.

Perhaps players like Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Amario Cozier-Duberry or Charlie Patino were never good enough, but whether that’s true or not is irrelevant to the younger guys who want to make it at the highest level. Obi-Martin clearly believes his best chances lie outside of North London.

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