Mikel Arteta is currently without a recognised senior striker at Arsenal.
The Gunners were looking for a new striker during the winter transfer window after Gabriel Jesus suffered a serious knee injury at the start of January.
Arsenal were offered Randal Kolo Muani – while the Gunners also asked about Benjamin Sesko – but ultimately went without a new forward.
The situation has since become worse after Kai Havertz tore his hamstring while training out in Dubai – leaving Mikel Arteta with Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard as his only experienced attackers, with teenage superstar Ethan Nwaneri also available.
However, Arsenal could have actually called upon another talented youngster amid this injury crisis in the form of Chido Obi.
Arsenal refused to match what Manchester United offered Chido Obi
Arsenal had a gem in the 17-year-old.
Obi – who impressed Ian Wright during his time in north London – remarkably scored 32 goals in just 21 appearances for the Arsenal U18 side, and it seemed Arsenal had another diamond emerging from Hale End.
However – according to All Nigeria Soccer – Arsenal did not want to meet the Denmark U18 international’s wage demands, leaving Manchester United free to snap him up back in October.
Nigerian goal machine Chido Obi-Martin has taken to social media to confirm his departure from Arsenal after four years.
— AllNigeriaSoccer (@Editor_ANS) July 30, 2024
The Gunners were not ready to offer him more than £15,000 pw for his pro deal. Manchester United gladly doubled the wages offered by Arsenal.
It is believed that Obi wanted £30,000-a-week to stay at Arsenal, although the Gunners were prepared to offer £15,000-a-week and no more.
The Dane – who is of Nigerian descent – has since continued his excellent form at Manchester United, netting 12 goals in only nine games for their U18 side to take his career total to 44 in just 39 outings at youth level.
Ruben Amorim rewarded Obi – who Real Madrid wanted – for his efforts with a Premier League debut during the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.
Arsenal were right to ignore Chido Obi demands
Obi was 16 at the time of this dispute, and in our view, no 16-year-old footballer should be earning £30,000-a-week, regardless of how precocious a talent they are.
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For example – according to Capology – Bukayo Saka was only, relatively speaking, on £10,000-a-week before signing a new contract in July 2020, which was a reward for a fine 2019/20 campaign in which he scored three goals and provided ten assists in the Premier League.
Therefore, it would not have been a wise move for Arsenal to hand Obi £30,000-a-week at the age of 16, as such a decision could have set a dangerous precedent for future Hale End prodigies.