Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has assured his youth team players like Chuba Akpom and Alex Iwobi of regular fist team places if they impress him in the club’s Asian tour of Singapore.
The Gunners arrived in Singapore on Sunday ahead of their first pre-season friendly against a Singapore Select XI side on Wednesday.
The Anglo-Nigerian stars are part of the team to the pre-season tour and could be handed the chance to shine.
Aside from the Singapore Select XI, Arsenal will play against either Stoke City or Everton also on a tour of Asia in the Barclays Asia Trophy on Saturday.
Interestingly, Wenger told Arsenal’s official website that the performances put up by the youngsters could impact on his transfer plans this summer.
“For us it’s important because it’s a football game and the best way to test where you stand in pre-season is to see how far you are and how quickly we can find our game back,” Wenger told www.arsenal.com on Tuesday.
“As well it’s a good opportunity for me to give a chance to players who are on the fringe of the team and to see how close they are to contributing. That can influence my decisions before the transfer market is over.”
Iwobi, a nephew of former Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, has officially made known his intention to represent Nigeria at the senior level despite being an England youth international, but Akpom who played a couple of first-team matches last season is still undecided about his international future