"I Wanted To Chido Obi To Stay But He Made His Decision To Join Man U" - Mikel Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has addressed the departure of promising young forward Chido Obi to Manchester United, expressing regret over the loss but acknowledging the player's decision. 

Obi, 17, joined Manchester United in October after a standout season with Arsenal's Under-18s, where he netted 32 goals in 18 appearances. Arteta commented on Obi's departure, stating, "I wasn't too involved in that decision. Obviously, when a player decides that the best pathway for him is to leave, there's not much you can do." 

He further reflected on the situation, "Very unfortunate because we want to keep our players from the academy and to be very successful with the first team." Arteta also noted that Arsenal had offered Obi opportunities to develop within the club, including chances to train with the first team, similar to the path taken by Ethan Nwaneri. 

The upcoming match between Arsenal and Manchester United on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Old Trafford, will mark Obi's potential return to face his former team.