An Arsenal academy sensation has astonished Chris Sutton after Chidozie Obi-Martin scored 10 goals in their 14-3 win against Liverpool in an Under-16 game last weekend.
The Gunners thrashed the best of the Reds’ youth fold on Saturday with Obi-Martin the true star of the show. He led the Arsenal academy team to an emphatic win with nine goals from open play plus a penalty. Liverpool could not find an answer to stop his intelligent footwork.
Obi-Martin was a tenacious threat throughout their fixture as Arsenal continued to feed the 15-year-old the ball. Liverpool were almost scared at times to tackle the striker whenever he waltzed into the Reds’ area. It was an almost perfect performance by the imposing attacker.
Obi-Martin leads Arsenal to an emphatic U16s win over Liverpool
Liverpool fell further and further behind Arsenal as Obi-Martin scored a mixture of types of goals. He showed great pace to run down the wing and through the area, the intelligence to round the Reds’ goalkeeper, to chip the shot-stopper, to head home and to score his penalty.
Arsenal’s academy continued to reap the rewards of Obi-Martin’s clinical finishing as the tall attacker kept finding Liverpool’s goal. Their fixture also emphasised how the 15-year-old has outgrown the Under-16 level. He returned to the age level with Arsenal’s U18s not in action.
Sutton expects big things from the England and Norway youth talent
Obi-Martin has often played above his age group in Arsenal’s academy in recent seasons. He is currently a regular for their U18 side but has already featured for the Gunners’ U19s. They have even handed the forward his debut appearance for their U21s in the Premier League 2.
England have even already capped Obi-Martin at the Under-16 level but must rival Denmark for his future services. The centre-forward was born in the Danish town of Glostrup and has regularly featured for De Rod-Hvide at the Under-16 and U17 levels over the last 13 months.
Obi-Martin only made his debut for Denmark’s U17s this August yet already has seven goals in nine caps. He even scored four times on his debut at the age level yet he only turns 16 on November 29. So, Sutton expects big things from Obi-Martin after his exploits with Arsenal.
“Have you heard of the name Chido Obi-Martin?” he said on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast. “There’s a good chance you’ll be writing about him in the future.
“He scored 10 goals in a game for Arsenal against Liverpool Under-16s. Ten goals in a game! I only did it twice but not at that level. That’s pretty amazing, whatever you say at that level. Under-16 level, Arsenal vs Liverpool, two massive clubs. I mean, blimey!”
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
