With Arsene Wenger signing a 2-year contract extension which will keep him at the club until 2019, it is fair enough for Arsenal fans to stop with their rants and back the manager and the board as we head into a crucial summer transfer window.
The North London club have been linked with a number of players here and there with many reports suggesting that we have already captured 23-year old Bosnian left-back Sead Kolasinac from Schalke 04 on a free transfer.
Another player who is reportedly close to joining the Gunners is Nigerian winger Henry Onyekuru who plays for KAS Eupen in the Belgian first division (Jupiler Pro League). The fans might be wondering about what the 19-year old can bring to the Emirates club as he is relatively unknown.
Onyekuru joined Belgian club KAS Eupen from Senegalese club ASPIRE Senegal on a free transfer in July 2015 as an 18-year old. In his first season at the club, he led the club to promotion from the Belgian 2nd division scoring 6 times and assisting 2 times in 19 league games. His second season at the club was an even more fruitful one.
The young forward has scored 24 goals and has bagged 9 assists in 41 games in all competitions for Eupen in the 2016/17 season and was Spanish manager Jordi Condom Auli’s go to man. Eupen finished 13th in the 2016/17 Jupiler Pro League just 7 points shy of relegation and Onyekuru was the main reason behind their survival.
With Onyekuru turning 20 in July he would like to take his career to the next level by signing for a big club. And the reported £6.8m interest from the Gunners will be a pleasant surprise for the youngster.
He was even called up to the Nigeria national football team for the friendlies against Corsica on May 26th and Togo 6 days later. He joins the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City – 20 years), Moses Simon (Gent – 21 years), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC – 21 years), Ola Aina (Chelsea – 20 years), Isaac Success (Watford – 21 years) and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City – 20 years) in the group of next gen Nigerian players who look set to take the African nation to the next level in the football world.
The 5 feet 9 inch forward is primarily a left winger but can also play as a right winger or a center forward. He is a double footed player and is extremely fast with amazing dribbling skill which is exactly the reason why he prefers the wings over the central position.
If Onyekuru joins Arsenal, he can benefit by initially playing in the U-23 Premier League for regular football and can be drafted into the first team as we would need him considering that we have a tough season ahead with Thursday night UEFA Europa League football. Hence acquiring Onyekuru’s services would be beneficial for all parties. COYG!!
