Chuba Akpom must show he is Arsenal quality, says Arsene Wenger
Wednesday 15 July 2015 17:19, UK
Arsene Wenger says it is down to Chuba Akpom to prove he is good enough for more game time in the Premier League this season after the youngster's hat-trick in Arsenal's 4-0 win over a Singapore Select XI.
The 19-year-old's fine performance helped the Gunners through to the Barclays Asia Trophy final against Everton on Saturday, but he is yet to score a senior goal for the club.
Akpom played seven times for Arsenal last season, but did not score while out on loan at Nottingham Forest for the final few months of the season.
Wenger said: "I know he has potential, he has an aggressive desire in the box. He can brush people away, he has an intense desire to score.
"I believe this is an encouragement to him to work even harder and to show he can play in the first team.
"I believe he can, and after that it is down to the players. I see in him something I found interesting last year. He went out on loan, he learnt what it is to play when you need to win games.
"He comes back now focused and determined, so he has good potential."
Wenger's side looked dominant in the second half after being frustrated by the hosts in the first, and the Frenchman praised their opponents' performance in the evening heat in Singapore.
"It was a serious performance from the first to the last minute," added the Gunners boss. "We got what we wanted from this Singapore team. It was an interesting pre-season game.
"The team concentration and the desire to play well together, the team dynamic and team focus was good."
Watch Arsenal take on Everton in the Barclays Asia Trophy final on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 1.30pm.
