There were many Arsenal fans that thought Chuba Akpom should have stayed at the Emirates this year as cover for Walcott and Giroud, but Arsene Wenger thought it would be more beneficial for the 19 year-old to go out on loan under Steve Bruce at Hull City.
Akpom scored a couple of goals early on at the club, but since August he had gone nine games without scoring. He was called up to the England U21 side a couple of weeks ago and scored on his debut, and he has finnal broken his barren run at Hull as well after scoring in the penalty shoot out win over Premiership side Leicester.
Steve Bruce had kept faith with the youngster, but Abel Hernandez has earned his first-choice status with 8 goals already this season. “He’s only 19 and he’ll come again, that’s for sure. I’ve got no doubt about that,” said Bruce.
“He had a wonderful start and lit everyone up here but it’s normal for a young player, in my experience, to go up and down a little bit until they get used to playing week in and week out.
“There’s no doubt about his ability. He’s working really, really hard. Because of his physicality, you forget he’s only 19. He’s a boy.”
“He wants to play every week, that’s why he’s here, but I have to protect him a little bit and not flog him.
“At 19 he hasn’t really developed fully. He’s not a man yet. We have to give him time and patience but he’s got all the natural ingredients.”
I too am sure that Akpom has a great future in front of him, but I just hope he doesn’t get impatient like Benik Afobe, who preferred to play every week rather than wait for his place at Arsenal. If he can get back on his feet and start banging them in in the Championship, then hopefully he can come back to the Gunners next season a more complete striker…