Mikel Arteta has made a guarantee to the Arsenal youth stars who have watched Chido Obi go straight into the first-team picture at Manchester United. Obi rejected an Arsenal contract offer and joined United on a compensation deal last September due to concerns around his route into the Gunners' senior side. Arteta was unable to offer the teenager assurances on first-team minutes despite him obliterating youth-team scoring records in 2023/24.
Less than three months after turning 17, Obi was named in a United matchday squad by Ruben Amorim. And he has now made three appearances at centre-forward, looking lively in his last two despite failing to get off the mark.
Obi could meet his former club for the first time as a senior professional this Sunday, when Arsenal travel to Old Trafford. Another former Gunner, Ayden Heaven, may also be involved, having fallen into the Red Devils' clutches after barely getting a look-in behind William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
With a trend emerging, Arteta hopes to avoid other young players jumping ship for fear of missing out on first-team opportunities.
Speaking on why Obi chose to move on, he said: "I don't know what the perception is. But I guarantee that if there is a player that can impact and help the first-team, they are going to be with us.
"I was not too involved in that decision. When a player decides the best pahtway is to leave, there is not much you can do. It's unfortunate because we want to keep our best players from the academy to be successful with the first-team."
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