Mikel Arteta breaks silence on Chido Obi-Martin’s Arsenal exit ahead of Man Utd clash | Football

Mikel Arteta has spoken out about Chido Obi-Martin’s ‘very unfortunate’ decision to leave Arsenal for Manchester United ahead of their Premier League match.

Fresh off thrashing PSV 7-1 in the Champions League, Arsenal travel to Old Trafford on Sunday knowing they must win if they want to salvage their title challenge.

The Gunners are 13 points behind Liverpool in the table, albeit with a game in hand, and while many believe the title race is done, Arteta insists nothing is decided yet.

His side will be expected to dispatch of United easily, with the Red Devils enduring one of the worst seasons in their history.

Ruben Amorim’s side have been especially woeful in front of goal and the terrible form of centre-forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee has given Obi-Martin a chance in the first-team.

The teenager was tipped to be the next big thing at the Emirates after scoring for fun in Arsenal’s academy but last summer he made the shock decision to leave for United.

The Dane, 17, has continued to find the back of the net in Manchester and after recently making his senior debut, will likely feature against his boyhood club on Sunday.

Asked about Obi-Martin’s exit, Arteta suggested in his pre-match press conference that he would like to have held on to the striker, saying: ‘I wasn’t too involved in that decision.

‘When a player decides the best pathway is to leave there’s not much you can do.

‘Very unfortunate because we want to keep our players from the academy and to be very successful with the first-team but in this case we were unable to do that.’

There was much fury from Arsenal fans upon Obi-Martin’s departure and some suggestion that Arteta and the club were not providing a clear pathway for academy players to go into the senior side.

That perception doesn’t appear to hold up however as this season alone Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have become key members of the side, with some even tipping the teenagers to make the next England squad.

‘I don’t know what the perception is, externally or not and the reality is very different,’ Arteta added.

‘I guarantee you, if there is a player there that can help and impact the first-team he’s going to be with us.’

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