Manchester United may have a future star in their ranks, and the Gunners could have been dealt a major blow, if the words of a former Arsenal academy coach are anything to go by.
Chido Obi-Martin made the switch from Arsenal to United back in October, after impressing with his performances in the Gunners' youth setup. The towering forward was making rapid strides in north London, netting goals aplenty, including an unforgettable 10-goal haul in an under-16 match against Liverpool.
However, the young Dane chose to leave the capital for Manchester to further his development. Paul Aladejare, who formerly headed recruitment for Arsenal's under-12 to under-14 teams, knows Obi-Martin well and believes that the player's decision to move could be a significant blow for Mikel Arteta's side.
"He believes he is the best player at his age group in the world," Aladejare said. "That is his mentality." Aladejare first came across Obi-Martin following a tip-off about two Danish brothers who had recently moved to the UK with their family, reports the Mirror.
After just 20 minutes of watching Obi-Martin play, Aladejare was on the phone to his Arsenal superiors to declare what he'd witnessed, as reported by The Athletic. "You have to get here right now and man-mark this kid's mum," he said. "There are scouts from every club in London asking who he is and where he has come from,"
Chido Obi-Martin
Chido Obi-Martin signed for United in September of this year (Image: Chido Obi-Martin/X)
Standing at an impressive 6"2, the young starlet is considered one of English football's brightest talents. His prolific form has seen him become the highest goalscorer in the history of the Under-18 Premier League, a feat achieved in a United shirt since signing his first pro deal at Old Trafford at 17.
Upon signing for the Red Devils, Obi-Martin expressed his excitement on social media. His words will no doubt sting Gunners' fans who were excited by the starlet's huge potential.
"Very happy to sign with this amazing club, time to focus and achieve all my dreams," he said. "Thanks to everyone who has helped me get this far.", reports the Manchester Evening News."
However he did sign off from Arsenal with a heartfelt message on Instagram. "I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everybody at Arsenal for the last four years," he wrote.
"The experiences and growth I've achieved here have been truly invaluable. A special thanks to the coaches, staff and team-mates at Hale End."
Obi-Martin, who is eligible for England and Nigeria, as well as Denmark, originally joined CrownPro Elite Academy and trained with them for months before being given a two-week trial at Arsenal. After he signed with the Gunners, he quickly became an internet star, with his goals often going viral.
Netting 32 goals in 18 games for the under-18s, despite being years younger, he also bagged 12 goals in 19 games for the Danish U17s, and two in four for his country's U18 side. Aladejare went on to concede that Obi-Martin's capabilities in front of goal are continuing to blossom.
"I did one-on-one technical sessions with him even when he was at Arsenal," Aladejare said. "He was like a sponge. He could take 10 shots, bag nine and if he missed one he wanted to start again. He goes again until he gets it right. He used to be a good finisher and now he's a great finisher."
Chido Obi-Martin celebrating in the Under-18 Premier League
Chido Obi-Martin has been a revelation since moving to England (Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Arsenal believed their proposal for Obi-Martin to remain at the club was compelling, staying within their wage structure. Yet The Athletic reports that the 17-year-old was persuaded that a clear route to first-team football would be more attainable at United, owing to their notable history of nurturing young talent.
In October, he marked his debut for United’s under-18s with a hat-trick in the first 15 minutes against Nottingham Forest. Since his move to the Red Devils Obi-Martin has registered five goals in five games in the U18 Premier League and claimed one assist.
Following his triumphant debut, Chido-Martin posted on Instagram: "Happy to be back." In addition to that post, the player also uploaded several stories and pictures from the game on to his account.
Will Obi-Martin be considered a missed opportunity for Arsenal? For the moment, it's Manchester United, and particularly new manager Ruben Amorim, who are reaping the rewards of the teenager's decision to switch clubs.