It looked a few years ago as though Chuba Akpom would be the next player from the Arsenal academy to break through into regular first team contention. A very impressive season with the reserves saw him go on the pre-season tour and score a few goals before making his first team debut the following season, but it has not quite worked out as well as we all hoped, so far at least.
The talented and pacy striker is 21-years old now and approaching 22 but he still has just four Premier League appearances to his name and has been out on loan in each of the last four years, so you would think that the clock is ticking on his hopes of making it with the Gunners.
I think he has what it takes, though, and perhaps he could use this Emirates Cup to stake a claim once again, especially after he was the star of the show for a much changed Arsenal side that won comfortably against Boreham Wood this week.
We know that forwards thrive on confidence so I am sure that Arsene Wenger will give Akpom some game time this weekend. Can he take that chance and prove to the boss and us fans that he has what it takes to be an Arsenal first team player, or at least a good option to have on the bench?
Bob.