In the last couple of weeks Arsenal have been strongly linked with moves for top strikers like Edison Cavani and Paolo Dybala, but anyone who knows Arsene Wenger is aware that his motto is “we don’t buy stars, we make them”.
Okay the purchases of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez have proved to be the exception to the rule, but for out and out strikers Arsene always dreams of bringing one through the Academy that will become a world-beater. This season he has got the 19 year-old Chuba Akpom remaining with the first team squad although he has only made one substitute appearance in the Premier League plus a few minor cup games. Akpom was extremely impressive in the Youth sides last season scoring 15 times in his 23 appearances and could become a star in the future.
For me, even more likely to succeed is the youngster Benik Afobe, who has been in scintillating form out on loan at MK Dons in League One. He has amassed an amazing 19 goals in the first half of the season, including a double when the Dons knocked Man United out of the Capital One Cup. The 21 year-old has promised to do even better in the second half of the season. “The one goal I have is to do everything exactly the same as I did in the first half of the season – but better.”
“My team-mates have also been incredible here.
“All the staff have helped me a lot as well so it it’s just been really easy.
“Sometimes when something clicks, it clicks.”
If he carries on like this surely Wenger will have to give him an opportunity to prove himself in the next pre-season back at Arsenal, before he even considers bringing in an outsider at an extortionate price?