Mikel Arteta has addressed Chido Obi-Martin’s decision to leave Arsenal for Manchester United, calling it “very unfortunate” ahead of their Premier League clash.
Arsenal travel to Old Trafford after a dominant 7-1 win over PSV, needing a victory to keep their title hopes alive despite trailing Liverpool by 13 points.
Obi-Martin, 17, was once considered Arsenal’s next big striker but opted to join United last summer, where he has since broken into the first team.
United’s struggles in front of goal have given Obi-Martin a chance, and he could feature against his boyhood club in Sunday’s high-stakes match.
Arteta admitted he wasn’t heavily involved in the decision but wished the academy prospect had stayed, emphasizing Arsenal’s desire to develop young talent.
The manager insisted that any academy player capable of impacting the first team would be given an opportunity, countering claims of a blocked pathway.
Some fans criticized Arsenal for not providing a clear path to the first team, but Arteta pointed to Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly’s breakthroughs this season.
As Arsenal push for a strong finish, Arteta remains focused on integrating young talent while keeping the Gunners in the Premier League title race.