Mikel Arteta says it was “unfortunate” for Arsenal to lose Chido Obi to Manchester United, but has dismissed the idea that there is no pathway for young players at the club.
Teenage striker Obi left the Gunners last summer and then completed a move to Old Trafford in October.
The 17-year-old scored 32 goals in just 18 games for Arsenal’s Under-18s team last season and was regarded as one of the hottest prospects in their academy.
Obi, however, elected to leave the club and sign scholarship terms with rivals United instead.
“I wasn’t too involved in that decision,” said Arsenal boss Arteta ahead of Sunday’s visit to Old Trafford in the Premier League. “Obviously, when a player decides that the best pathway for him is to leave, there’s not much you can do.
“Very unfortunate because we want to keep our players from the academy and to be very successful with the first team. But in that case, also with Ayden [Heaven], we weren't able to do that.”
Obi has since been joined at Manchester United by fellow Arsenal academy graduate Heaven, who signed in January.
The 18-year-old, who had not penned a professional contract with the Gunners, joined for a fee in the region of £1.5million.
Losing two academy graduates to United in less than a year sparked fear among some sections of Arsenal’s fanbase that young players felt they were not getting opportunities at the club.
The rise of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly this season has dented that argument, though, and Arteta has also stressed his commitment to youth.
“I don’t know what the perception is out [there], internally it is not [that young players don’t get chances],” said Arteta.
“And the reality is very different, because those players are always with us. I mean, I guarantee you that if there is a player there that can help and impact the first team, he’s going to be with us.”
