Arsenal spared transfer embarrassment as Manchester United set to make ‘complicated’ decision on key young star

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Arsenal are set to face a huge FA Youth Cup quarter final against Manchester United.

Arsenal’s young guns have the opportunity to reach the semi final in front of an expectant crowd at the Emirates Stadium as they take on rivals Manchester United.

The Arsenal academy has seen its reputation grow bigger than ever this season after the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly follows the likes of Bukayo Saka also producing on the world stage.

Jack Wilshere sent a congratulatory message after the U18 side defeated Fulham 2-1 in the previous round and the team, which will include Max Dowman, have been given another boost ahead of the quarter final tie.

READ MORE: Arsenal wonderkid joins Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman in record books with academy appearance

Manchester United youngster set to miss FA Youth Cup clash against Arsenal

Arsenal refused Chido Obi-Martin’s wage demands in the summer and ultimately left the door open for the youngster to make a switch to Manchester United.

As per the Mail Online, Obi-Martin is currently in the middle of a ‘complicated’ week at United and after featuring as an unused sub in their Premier League victory over Ipswich, the striker is now set to miss the Youth Cup clash against his former side.

The reason being is that United feel Obi-Martin will feature in the first team’s FA Cup clash against Fulham and therefore want to manage the workload of the young star.

With seven goals in the competition so far, including a hat trick in the previous round against Chelsea, the absence of the Dane would certainly boost the Gunners chances of progression.

Obi-Martin would have first team opportunities at Arsenal if he stayed

Obi-Martin could have replaced Kai Havertz during the Gunners current injury crisis but has found himself making a couple of substitute appearances at Old Trafford.

The recent departure of Ayden Heaven to Old Trafford was understandable given the plethora of options Mikel Arteta has in defence in his Arsenal first team squad.

The fact that the Gunners made a ‘fantastic effort’ to keep Obi-Martin shows how highly the club rated the 17-year-old striker and the pathway to the first team was clearly explained.

Those plans would have been accelerated given the current absence of the likes of Havertz and Gabriel Jesus and instead of making substitute appearances at Old Trafford, Obi-Martin could have been leading the line for Arteta’s side.