Mikel Arteta says it was “very unfortunate” to see youngsters Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven join Manchester United, but insisted academy players will find first-team opportunities at Arsenal.
Obi, who could be involved when the two clubs meet in the Premier League on Sunday, left the Gunners in the summer over concerns about his path into the senior squad.
The 17-year-old joined the Man Utd academy in October after scoring 32 goals in 18 games for Arsenal’s under-18s, a club record.
Arteta opens up on Obi and Heaven swapping Arsenal for Man Utd
When asked about Obi’s departure this week, Arteta said: “I wasn’t too involved in that decision.
“When a player decides the best pathway is to leave there’s not much you can do.
“It was very unfortunate because we want to keep our players from the academy and to be successful in the first team, but in the case of Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven, we couldn’t do that.”
Heaven followed Obi out the door at the Emirates Stadium in the summer, raising questions about the pathway to the first team from the academy. But breakout seasons for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri show that youth will be given a chance to succeed at Arsenal.
“I don’t know what the perception is outside, but internally no,” he said about a perceived lack of trust in youth. “The reality is very different because those players are with us all the time.
“I guarantee you that if there is a player there that can impact and help the first team, he is going to be with us.”
