'Wasn't possible at all' - Andries Jonker explains why Akpom didn't make it at Arsenal

Former Arsenal's academy manager Andries Jonker has admitted that it was not possible for Chuba Akpom to break into the Gunners first team during his time with the north London club because of competition for places. 
 

Akpom was on the books of Arsenal for sixteen years, rising through the youth team ranks to make his senior debut in a Premier League game against Sunderland in September 2013.

Overall, he appeared in twelve official matches for the Gunners before joining PAOK in a permanent transfer in the summer of 2018 after loan spells at Brentford, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Brighton & Hove and Sint-Truiden.

Akpom was behind the likes of Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sánchez, Nicklas Bendtner, Danny Welbeck, Lucas Pérez, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the pecking order of strikers when legendary coach Arsene Wenger was in charge of Arsenal.

Explaining why the Nigerian didn't make at his boyhood club, Jonker said on Good Morning Eredivisie via Ajax Fansite: "A boy like that plays there in training and then doesn't make it. That's not surprising.

"That boy didn't stand a chance, that wasn't possible at all."

Akpom recently joined Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam on a five-year deal after a banner 2022-2023 campaign that saw him score 28 goals in 38 appearances for Middlesbrough in the EFL Championship. 

Jonker, who now coaches Netherlands Women's national team, has backed the Hale End Academy graduate to make the grade at Ajax Amsterdam.

"He is an explosive boy. If it was about ten meters, then he won, then he was there.

"He is also a taller boy. A very different type than Brian Brobbey, I think. Although I don't know how he developed."

Akpom did not make his debut for Ajax in their Eredivisie clash against Excelsior Rotterdam this past weekend due to a work permit issue. 

Igho Kingsley 

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