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Wednesday 27 August 2014

Exclusive: Arsenal's Akpom Set For Dutch Move

Chuba Akpom Arsenal
Akpom making his Arsenal U21 debut against Boreham Wood two years ago

Young Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom is set for a loan move to the Dutch Eredivisie, with FC Twente or Feyenoord his likely destination.

Akpom is highly regarded at Arsenal but has been given limited first team opportunities, with Olivier Giroud, Yaya Sanogo and Joel Campbell all ahead of him in the pecking order.

He had brief loan spells at League One outfits Brentford and Coventry City last season, where the standard of football was below what he was used to and heavily reliant, particularly at the latter, on physicality and long-ball football.

With the Dutch Eredivisie, which revolves less around the physical side of the game and more on technical and tactical aspect, the 18 year old has a great opportunity to prove himself and develop as a player.

Feyenoord have a world renowned youth set up, 'one of the best in Europe' according to Arsene Wenger, and 5 of their academy graduates were in Louis van Gaal's World Cup Holland side. Clearly, they know how to nurture talent, and it would seem to be a superb place for Akpom to hone his skills.

The fact both Feyenoord and Twente are competing in this season's Europa League should act as further incentive for Akpom to finalise his loan move, and will provide invaluable experience.

Arsenal's new academy chief, Andries Jonker, former manager of the Dutch U21 National side, is highly thought of in Holland and is likely to have played a significant role in setting up this move.

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