Arsenal get fresh Chido Obi-Martin transfer message as Man Utd make big decision vs Tottenham
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal were celebrating a masterstroke on Saturday afternoon as makeshift striker Mikel Merino grabbed the headlines with a double off the bench to down Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Supporters and pundits alike were left wondering how Arteta would lineup up front, with season-ending injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz leaving the Gunners without a recognised striker for the Premier League run-in.
Arteta opted to play Leandro Trossard through the middle, with Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling around him, but although teenager Nwaneri shone and picked up the man of the match award, Sterling and Trossard flattered to deceive.
READ MORE: Alexander Isak 'verbal agreement' hands Arsenal £83m transfer lifeline after injury blow
READ MORE: Premier League forced to release Liverpool statement as Arsenal handed title race twist
With 21 minutes to go, Arteta threw on Merino as striker and the Spaniard repaid his faith from the manager with the match-winning double. However, Arteta might have been able to call upon a more recognised frontman if the club had reached an agreement with one of their young starlets this summer.
Chido Obi-Martin left north London after failing to agree on terms over a new contract at the Emirates Stadium. The 17-year-old scored an astonishing 32 goals in 18 appearances in the U18 Premier League last season and was the next big thing in the red half of north London.
However, having failed to agree terms on a deal, Obi-Martin decided to depart the club in favour of a move to Old Trafford and Manchester United in the summer. He has scored 12 goals in nine games in the U18 Premier League and FA Youth Cup for the Red Devils and smashed a hat-trick in the Youth Cup clash with Chelsea this week.
Now, he has made his way into the first team picture, with Obi-Martin named on the bench for Manchester United's trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The teenager will be looking to make an impression if he is given his chance on the pitch to show he is ready for Premier League football and show Arsenal what they are missing.