Mikel Arteta has expressed his disappointment over the departure of young striker Chido Obi, who left Arsenal for Premier League rivals Manchester United. Obi, an exciting prospect who had been part of the Arsenal academy, opted to leave when his contract expired last October, despite the club offering him a new deal. He subsequently made the move to United, where he began playing for their U18 team and has recently been making appearances for the senior side under Ruben Amorim.
Obi’s departure was particularly frustrating for Arteta and the Arsenal staff, as they had high hopes for the young forward. Despite starting in Arsenal’s youth ranks, Obi’s talent was evident, and the club had wanted to keep him on their books and integrate him into the first team in the future. However, Obi decided that a move to Manchester United offered him the best development path.
Reflecting on the loss, Arteta admitted that while it was disappointing, there was little the club could do once the player made his decision. He acknowledged that when a player feels that moving to another club is the right choice for their career, there’s no way to convince them otherwise. Arteta explained that, in this case, despite their best efforts to persuade Obi to stay, the young player ultimately chose to leave.
“It’s very unfortunate because we want to keep our players from the academy and help them achieve success with the first team,” Arteta said. “But in this case, we weren’t able to do that. When a player decides to leave, it’s because they believe that’s the best thing for their career, and we respect that.”
Arteta also highlighted the importance of a player’s willingness and commitment when it comes to staying with a club. He emphasized that both the club and the player must be fully aligned in their goals and aspirations. Unfortunately, it became clear that Obi no longer saw his future at Arsenal, and as Arteta put it, “We have moved on from that.”
Despite Obi’s departure, Arteta was full of praise for his talent. The 17-year-old forward, who is eligible to represent Nigeria, Denmark, and England, was described as a “massive goal threat” with a natural ability to score in a variety of ways. Arteta noted that Obi’s strong presence in the box, along with his clinical finishing, had made him stand out as one of Europe’s brightest young prospects.
During his time at Arsenal’s academy, Obi’s performances were impressive, and he showed great potential as a player. However, since joining Manchester United, he has continued to make strides, particularly with the U18 team. He has scored seven goals in three matches during the Youth Cup, showcasing his remarkable goal-scoring ability. His performances caught the attention of senior staff at United, and Obi was soon given the opportunity to make his senior team debut. He appeared as a late substitute in United’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham last month and also played in the 2-2 draw against Everton, where he demonstrated excellent positioning and movement.
The young striker’s recent appearances have drawn praise from United fans, and many are eager to see more of him in the future. His performances in the FA Cup against Fulham particularly impressed the Red Devils’ supporters, further cementing his potential as a rising star.
Despite the loss of Obi, Arteta remains focused on developing other young talents within the Arsenal system. The manager’s commitment to nurturing young players is clear, but as he stated, sometimes, despite the best efforts of the club, a player may decide that their future lies elsewhere. As Arsenal prepares for their upcoming clash with Manchester United, Arteta will undoubtedly reflect on the one that got away, but he is also focused on ensuring that the next generation of Arsenal players can thrive under his guidance.
