Mikel Arteta says it is "very unfortunate" that Chido Obi-Martin left Arsenal for Manchester United as the teenager prepares to face his old club.
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Obi-Martin swaps Arsenal for Man UtdSet to face old club this weekendArteta says his exit was "very unfortunate"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The forward swapped the Gunners for United last summer and now he is already getting a chance in the first-team. Ahead of the north London outfit visiting Old Trafford on Sunday in the Premier League, Arsenal boss Arteta has revealed his role in the 17-year-old's exit; while also remarking on Ayden Heaven's similar move in January.
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He told reporters: "Obviously, when a player decides that the best pathway for him 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 that case, with Ayden (Heaven), we weren't able to do that. To persuade a player to stay a player has to be willing to be with us and commit to us and I don’t know specifically, both parties will feel very different about it. The reality is that he has decided to move and we have moved on from that. [He's a] Massive goal threat, an attitude and love to be inside the box and a capacity to score in many different ways. That was him."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Obi-Martin is a highly-rated youngster, evidenced by the fact he is already getting minutes at United this season. With all of Arsenal's injuries up front, keeping onto him may have been a smart move as he prepares to line up against Arteta's team.
GettyWHAT NEXT?
Obi-Martin, who is a Danish Under-18 international, will hope to add to his three United appearances during the visit of Arsenal on Sunday.
