Mikel Arteta has given Bless Akolbire a huge chance by including the Arsenal academy prospect in training ahead of visiting RC Lens. So, here is everything you need to know.
The Gunners fly to Pas-de-Calais on Tuesday night to play Les Sang et Or in the Champions League. Arsenal kicked off their Group B campaign with a dominant 4-0 win at home to PSV Eindhoven. While Lens started with a 1-1 draw at Sevilla amid a tough Ligue 1 season so far.
Injuries have unlocked a path for youngsters into Arsenal’s matchday squad at Lens, though, and Akolbire could be in contention. Arteta has included the Hale End gem in training ahead of the Gunners’ tie. So, here is everything you need to know about the teenager on the rise.
Who is Bless Akolbire?
Bless Akolbire is a player for Arsenal’s academy and currently represents the Gunners at the Under-18 level. He first joined the north Londoners’ famed Hale End set-up at the U14 level after leaving Colchester United. Arsenal signed Akolbire to his first-year scholarship in 2023.
The Gunners handed Akolbire a scholarship in July 2023 after rising through their ranks after joining following a successful trial. He impressed Arsenal’s talent spotters on the back of an unsuccessful trial at Chelsea and having left Colchester United’s academy just a year before.
Akolbire returned to his first Sunday League side, White Star Academy FC in Edmonton, after two seasons with Colchester United. He could not stay in the U’s academy due to the travel necessities from where the talent lived in Tottenham. But it helped forge a route to Arsenal.
Where and when was Bless Akolbire born?
Arsenal prospect Bless Akolbire was born on January 25, 2007 in England. But the youngster is also able to represent Ghana through his family and dreams of playing for the Black Stars.
Akolbire told Arsenal’s club website this August: “My first football memory would have to be watching Ghana at the 2010 World Cup.
“Given that my whole family is Ghanaian, it was inspiring to see my country do so well and everyone was so excited and the energy in my house was special.
“In the future, I’d love to put on the famous Black Stars shirt and lead them to glory at an international tournament.”
What position does Bless Akolbire play?
Bless Akolbire plays for Arsenal in the position of central midfielder but has honed his trade in various roles. The youngster occasionally featured as a left-winger when he first started in Sunday League football aged six. But he always favoured a central role to influence a match.
“I tried to model my game on Yaya Toure because he could do it all,” he said. “Pass, dribble, shoot and score. He was the ultimate, complete midfielder.”
Akolbire further explained: “I’d describe myself as a box-to-box type player. I have defensive attributes but can dribble past a few players and pick out a killer pass in the final third, too.”
How good is Bless Akolbire?
Bless Akolbire clearly has a lot of potential after Mikel Arteta included the Arsenal prospect in training at London Colney ahead of visiting RC Lens in the Champions League. His talents also caught Colchester United and Chelsea’s eyes from an early age before joining Hale End.
The midfielder is also now emerging as a key player for the Gunners’ Under-18s side. He has further started to show his attacking threat after scoring Arsenal’s only goal in a pre-season friendly against Sutton. Akolbire has now been a part of Arsenal’s U18 team since July 2022.
Injuries thwarted Akolbire’s first season with Arsenal’s Under-18 team but his progress took Arteta by surprise. The Spaniard had also invited the youngster to train beside the Gunners’ first-team ahead of their 4-0 Premier League win at AFC Bournemouth in September 2023.
What sets Akolbire apart from Arsenal’s other academy prospects is his ability with the ball. He can dribble past defenders and can operate in very tight areas to spread the ball around the pitch. The teenager is also a skilful talent with aims of improving his threat in the attack.
Bless Akolbire’s stats at Arsenal
Ahead of the 2023/24 season, Bless Akolbire had only just broken through into the Under-18 side at Arsenal. But his performances for the Gunners’ academy hastily made an impression.
Under-18, Arsenal: 1 appearance, 0 goals, 0 assists
Under-21, Arsenal: 0 appearances, 0 goals, 0 assists
First-team, Arsenal: 0 appearances, 0 goals, 0 assists
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