Everything You Need to Know About Arsenal's Pre-Season Sensation Chuba Akpom

Chuba Akpom joined Arsenal at the age of six. That means that when he was first part of the Gunners’ academy, manager Arsene Wenger already had his first domestic double under his belt and was on his way to a second. After Akpom’s latest demonstration of his exciting talent, there’s a hope that he could play a part, however small, in leading Arsenal back to the top of English football.

Akpom is still only 19, but his development has always been ahead of the curve. Aged 15 he was already participating in the higher age group of under-18, his accelerated physical development enabling him to compete effectively against older players. Now his challenge is to make an impact at senior level. 

The England youth international was the standout player in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over a Singapore Select XI, grabbing a hat-trick against the inferior opposition.

The goals showcased different aspects of Akpom’s game: a thumping finish into the near post after a brief scramble; a coolly dispatched penalty; an emphatic header from a floated Hector Bellerin cross. Most notably, they demonstrated the predatory instinct that has developed in Akpom over the past couple of years.

Joseph Nair/Associated Press

In his mid-teens, Akpom had obvious physical gifts: He was fast, strong and blessed with quick feet. In athletic terms, he looked like a natural striker. However, he wasn’t a pure goalscorer. He struggled to sniff out chances and could lose composure in front of goal.

At youth level, at least, that has changed dramatically. Akpom has been an accomplished finisher at both U18 and U21 level, and he has a confidence in front of goal that belies his tender years.

After his most recent eye-catching performance, Wenger spoke glowingly to Arsenal's official website of Akpom’s talents:

"

I am delighted and not surprised because he has a killer instinct, you can feel his aggressive desire in the box.

That capacity to push defenders away, brush them away with his power is there. He needs to work hard and hopefully he will be encouraged by his three goals.

"

Comparisons with more established talents are inevitable. Alexis Sanchez famously dubbed Akpom “Titi” after Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. However, Henry was a player who favoured drifting to the flanks in order to make an impact, whereas Akpom’s domain is the penalty box. He’s much more poacher than playmaker, and in that respect is maybe more akin to someone like Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge.

Inevitably, his display in Singapore has sparked discussion about his first-team prospects this season. Even Akpom’s more experienced team-mates were impressed, with Mathieu Flamini telling the Arsenal website:

"

He’s in a very good team and he took his opportunities well against Singapore. It’s just important for him to now keep his belief, work hard and show that he has the quality when he is given another opportunity.

The boss gave him the chance against Singapore and he performed well. He responded to every chance that he had and took his goals very well.

"

Arsenal have a vacant No. 9 shirt and room in the squad for a more lethal finisher than either Olivier Giroud or Danny Welbeck. However, it’s undoubtedly too early to seriously discuss Akpom in those terms. If he is to establish himself in the first-team squad, there are still several hurdles to overcome.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Stepping up to senior level is a massive leap. Akpom’s physical dominance over his youthful contemporaries gave him a huge advantage at academy level. However, he’ll now be facing players quicker and stronger than him. That presents a new problem for Akpom, and it will be a test of the mental and technical aspects of his game. He can no longer afford to rely on his power to dominate opposition defenders.

He also needs to show he can score goals in true competitive encounters. The likes of Arturo Lupoli have been prolific at youth level without ever translating that form to the top level.

Akpom’s hat-trick in Singapore is not the first time he’s impressed in pre-season. Back in the summer of 2013, he made a number of notable cameos during Arsenal’s tour of Asia. He scored once against an Indonesian Dream Team, two more against Vietnam and a fourth and final goal in the farewell fixture against Urawa Red Diamonds. However, it proved something of a false dawn for Akpom, as he made just two senior appearances in the 2013/14 season.

It was rather telling that after the Singapore game Arsene Wenger urged caution, telling Arsenal's website: “Let’s not forget it’s a friendly. He has to work and show that in [the big] games.

Dita Alangkara/Associated Press

Last season, Akpom made seven appearances for the first team, most of which came in the post-Christmas period. It was during this time that Wenger worked tirelessly to convince him to eschew interest from abroad and sign a new long-term contract. Ultimately, the Arsenal manager’s persistence paid off, and Akpom committed his future to the club.

Now, the player will expect the manager to respond in kind and match that commitment by ensuring he gets first-team opportunities. Wenger has already told the club's website that he wants to retain Akpom as part of the squad this season:

"

I sent him out on loan last year because I thought he needed that. This pre-season, during the season I plan to keep him with us.

It’s down to performance and attitude. He has that grade to make between being a big talent and after an efficient talent week in, week out. That’s of course the target.

"

With Giroud, Welbeck, Theo Walcott and even Alexis Sanchez ahead of him in the pecking order for a first-team place, it’s somewhat surprising that Wenger does not want to let Akpom go on loan. However, perhaps he recognises that this young talent seems to flourish better in north London than anywhere else. He has already had spells with Brentford, Coventry City and Nottingham Forest, none of which have produced a competitive league goal. 

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Akpom himself seems aware of the scale of the challenge without being daunted by it. In an interview with the Arsenal website, he said:

"

I’ve been at Arsenal since I was six years old, so that’s a few years and I really want to stay here. This season could be a big season for me and with a lot of hard work it could be a breakthrough season for me. The main thing is to stay here and I think the loans have helped me gain experience. I’m just getting better every time.

"

For Arsenal fans, that’s a mouthwatering prospect. Akpom offers hope that their wait for a homegrown striker could be coming to a close.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.