‘I’M BACK FOR GOOD’:21-goal striker feels like he’s back at Hale End, five years after Arsenal sold him for just £2m
Arsenal prospect is on fire this season and the Middlesbrough striker feels like he is now back in Arsenal’s Hale End academy.
Some Arsenal talents become first-team superstars.
Bukayo Saka has made that transition from Arsenal’s youth setup to global stardom look pretty seamless.
Saka’s rise is the dream for all Hale End prospects now but it sadly can’t happen for everyone.
Some have to go elsewhere for first-team opportunities and must attempt to build themselves back up again.
One such player is Chuba Akpom – who now simply can’t stop scoring for Middlesbrough.
CHUBA AKPOM BOUNCING BACK AFTER ARSENAL EXIT
Akpom was incredibly highly rated in the Arsenal setup.
Arsene Wenger saw big potential in Akpom whilst suggesting that he had the ‘killer instinct’ needed in front of goal.
Sadly, Akpom was never able to make the grade at Arsenal and made just four Premier League appearances for the Gunners.
After loans to Brentford, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Brighton and Hove Albion and Sint-Truiden, Akpom was sold to Greek side PAOK for just £2million in 2018.
Akpom returned to England in 2020 but went back on loan to PAOK last season having struggled on Teesside.
Out of nowhere, Akpom has become one of the top goalscorers in England this season.
The 27-year-old has racked up 21 goals for Middlesbrough this season and is firing Michael Carrick’s men into a promotion race.
Akpom is no doubt attracting interest from elsewhere and he has now opened up on his incredible season.
Akpom has told The Athletic that he feels like he is now back at the Hale End academy because Carrick’s style of play is so similar to how he was schooled at Arsenal.
That approach is certainly working for Akpom and Arsenal may well have to face him in the Premier League next season.
“It feels like I’m back at the academy at Hale End, 100 per cent!” said Akpom. “The gaffer has a real footballing philosophy. Get the ball, be brave on the ball. We play from the back, play on the half-turn, are direct with lots of rotations and combinations.
“The way we play now is the way I was brought up playing in Hale End, so it fits me perfectly.”
