Chuba Akpom fires Arsenal to a winning start in their USA Tour. It was a tale of the young and the old at the
Avaya Stadium in California as the Gunners got their USA tour off to a winning
start. The game was played in front of a
sell-out 18,000 crowd in San Jose looked to be petering out to a 1-1 draw,
Chuba Akpom got on the end of Nacho Monreal’s cross to tap in the winning goal
three minutes from time.
Avaya Stadium in California as the Gunners got their USA tour off to a winning
start. The game was played in front of a
sell-out 18,000 crowd in San Jose looked to be petering out to a 1-1 draw,
Chuba Akpom got on the end of Nacho Monreal’s cross to tap in the winning goal
three minutes from time.
The 20-year-old Akpom, who spent last season on
loan at Hull, also walked away with the Most Valuable Player award, and the
Londoner later spoke of his delight at sharing the same pitch as some of his
childhood idols. “I was playing against players that I played with on Fifa
when I was younger,” explained Akpom, referencing Drogba, David Villa and
Andrea Pirlo, all of whom appeared for the All-Stars. “Those are players
that you watch in World Cups and big tournaments and make you think: ‘Wow, I
want to get to that standard’.”
loan at Hull, also walked away with the Most Valuable Player award, and the
Londoner later spoke of his delight at sharing the same pitch as some of his
childhood idols. “I was playing against players that I played with on Fifa
when I was younger,” explained Akpom, referencing Drogba, David Villa and
Andrea Pirlo, all of whom appeared for the All-Stars. “Those are players
that you watch in World Cups and big tournaments and make you think: ‘Wow, I
want to get to that standard’.”
Akpom made his senior debut for Arsenal in
September 2013 but only eight more appearances have followed in the subsequent
three years with Arsene Wenger preferring to loan out the youngster. Asked if
he hoped he might get an opportunity for more game time with the Gunners this
season, Akpom replied: “The boss knows what he’s doing. He is one of the
best managers in the world, or he is the best manager in the world… My job is
just to work as hard as I can and wait for my opportunity. I’ll be patient
until I get it.”
September 2013 but only eight more appearances have followed in the subsequent
three years with Arsene Wenger preferring to loan out the youngster. Asked if
he hoped he might get an opportunity for more game time with the Gunners this
season, Akpom replied: “The boss knows what he’s doing. He is one of the
best managers in the world, or he is the best manager in the world… My job is
just to work as hard as I can and wait for my opportunity. I’ll be patient
until I get it.”
Wenger declared himself satisfied with the result,
particularly given the strength of the opposition. “When I looked at the
players on the team sheet I thought: ‘That could be a very difficult game for
us.’ And it was,” said the Arsenal manager.
particularly given the strength of the opposition. “When I looked at the
players on the team sheet I thought: ‘That could be a very difficult game for
us.’ And it was,” said the Arsenal manager.
Describing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s performance as
“exceptionally strong”, Wenger also singled out new signing Granit
Xhaka for special praise, saying: “His passing was clean and technically
he did well. Overall, I believe that his first game was encouraging… he reads
the game and understands what’s going on, anticipates well. That’s a quality at
such a young age that you will not find a lot.”
“exceptionally strong”, Wenger also singled out new signing Granit
Xhaka for special praise, saying: “His passing was clean and technically
he did well. Overall, I believe that his first game was encouraging… he reads
the game and understands what’s going on, anticipates well. That’s a quality at
such a young age that you will not find a lot.”
And despite Akpom’s goal-scoring display, Wenger
indicated that he’s likely to look to the transfer market to strengthen his
strikeforce ahead of the new season. “I have, at the moment, not too many
attacking options of experienced players,” he said. “We still look outside
to find one more.”
indicated that he’s likely to look to the transfer market to strengthen his
strikeforce ahead of the new season. “I have, at the moment, not too many
attacking options of experienced players,” he said. “We still look outside
to find one more.”
