Arsene Wenger will keep close eye on Oguzhan Ozyakup as Bayern Munich face Besiktas

To win the 2009-10 Premier Academy League, having finished nine points clear at the top of their group, Arsenal’s U18s first had to contest a play-off final against their counterparts at Nottingham Forest. Arsenal were triumphant that day, storming to a 5-3 win.

The team that overcame Forest included the likes of Ignasi Miquel, Nico Yennaris, Emmanuel Frimpong and Benik Afobe, the latter of whom scored a hat-trick to clinch the title. Despite making a total of 34 senior appearances for Arsenal between them and being tipped for regular first-team contention, they now play with varying degrees of success for Malaga, Brentford, Cypriot side Ermis Aradippou and Bournemouth respectively.

Also in the Arsenal starting line-up against Forest was a slight, unimposing but snappy midfielder called Oguzhan Ozyakup. Over the next couple of weeks, he is set to feature against Bayern Munich in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Blocked pathway

Where so many of his teammates in the Arsenal youth set-up struggled to make an impact at the highest level, Ozyakup has worked ceaselessly to make a career for himself at Besiktas. Born to Turkish parents in the Dutch city of Zaandam, Ozyakup started out with a local side called Zaandam Türkspor – mainly made up of players with Turkish heritage – before moving on to AZ Alkmaar and then to the Arsenal academy in 2008.

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Though he was highly rated in the four years he spent in North London, twice winning the league with the U18s, he only made two senior appearances for Arsenal. Both came in the League Cup in the 2011/12 season, with Ozyakup a second-half substitute in wins against Shrewsbury Town and Bolton Wanderers.

Those watching closely noted a dynamic, intelligent player with a sharp pass-and-move style well suited to Arsenal. There were whispers of ‘Cesc Fabregas’ among the dreamers and optimists who had watched him progress through the youth teams, though as well as his passing skill Ozyakup also had a bit of bite in the tackle and a burst of pace.

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Though Ozyakup did enough to impress a few eagle-eyed fans during his League Cup cameos, the pathway to regular first-team action was blocked by a host of established midfielders including Abou Diaby, Mikel Arteta, Alex Song and Denilson. Rumoured to be well regarded by Arsene Wenger, he nonetheless opted for first-team football and a move to Besiktas in 2012.

Speaking two years later when Arsenal narrowly beat Besiktas in a two-legged Champions League qualifier, Wenger said of Ozyakup: “I’m happy that he came here. He was educated by us and we saw that he had top quality and technically he is very good. Physically he can run all day, he has very good stamina and a good final pass.

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“I always thought he could make a career but at our club he had big competition in front of him [for a starting spot] and that is why we let him go.”

Besiktas hero

That 2014 Champions League qualifier was a good opportunity for Ozyakup to remind Arsenal fans of his abilities. No longer so slight and with little difficulty in imposing himself he picked up yellow cards in both games for impatient challenges, but also made a significant contribution defensively as Besiktas were bested by a single goal over two legs.

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Back in the Turkish Super Lig, the kid they called ‘Ozzy’ had more room to express himself. Since his Besiktas debut in 2012, he has racked up an impressive 27 goals and 46 assists for the Istanbul club.

Now 25 years of age, Ozyakup has two Super Lig titles to his name. Despite having played for the Netherlands’ U17 and U19 sides, he switched his allegiance to Turkey in 2013 and has made 30 appearances for The Crescent Stars since, featuring in all three of their Euro 2016 games.

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Having played in every game of the Champions League group stage this season – Besiktas were undefeated and finished top of qualifying Group G – Ozyakup has been instrumental in setting up their Round of 16 clash with Bayern Munich. Should he leave Besiktas this summer he will leave a hero, not least if they cause an unlikely upset against the Bundesliga’s champions elect.

Watchful Wenger

Given that he is into the last six months of his contract with Besiktas, there seems a high chance that Ozyakup will leave this summer. With the path to the first-team no longer so cluttered, Arsenal have been linked with a move for their former youth prospect and Ozyakup may well decide that it’s time to capitalise on Arsene Wenger’s continued admiration.

With Arsenal not in action again until Sunday when they face Manchester City in the League Cup Final, Wenger may well take the opportunity to watch how Besiktas get on against Bayern. Should Ozyakup impress with his performances, his old manager could decide that the time is right to bring the former U18s champ to North London again.