The actual purpose Arsenal starlet Chido Obi-Martin is leaving

When the news of Chido Obi-Martin’s expected exit from Arsenal broke yesterday, the feeling among the club’s fanbase was unanimous.

Not again. Another prolific academy talent bumped off the Hale End conveyor belt and into the hands of a Premier League rival.

You see, a pattern was becoming clearer after other recent departures. Though the Obi-Martin situation is complex, Arsenal’s approach is designed to future-proof the club, whether that’s through utilising academy talent for the first team or making profit through sales where necessary.

The highly-touted midfielder Amario Cozier-Duberry and defender Reuell Walters have already sealed moves to Brighton and Luton Town respectively earlier this month.

Mail Sport understands Arsenal offered both players, with their contracts expiring, a new deal and outlined to them what their futures at the club looked like.

Cozier-Duberry and Walters listened to the pitch before deciding a move elsewhere would be a faster way into first-team football and ultimately better for their careers.

Both the club and players parted ways amicably, the moves satisfying all parties involved. But with Obi-Martin, the feeling within Arsenal is different.

The interest in the 16-year-old reached unusual levels for a player of that age because of his record-breaking performances in the academy.

The 6ft 2in physically imposing forward scored a club record 32 goals in 18 Arsenal Under-18 matches. But it was his 10, yes 10 goals against Liverpool Under-16s in November, aged just 15, that really snatched the headlines and inflated the excitement around him.

In the days after that incredible haul, Mail Sport revealed that the FA were exploring options of luring Obi-Martin back to representing England. He has featured for the youth sides of both Denmark – his country of birth – and England this year.

So everyone — not least the Arsenal hierarchy — were aware of Obi-Martin’s talents. It is why subsequent events have left some within the club disappointed.

In addition to lucrative contract, Arsenal had offered Obi-Martin Under-18s football, with playing time for the Under-21s where schedule allows — and to join in with first team training as the season goes on.

That was a problem. Obi-Martin’s camp wanted the player to join the Under-21s immediately rather than play in the younger age group but the real dealbreaker was the money.

The club and player were a long way apart and, with no agreement in place, the Gunners walked away.

As ever, there are two sides to a story. From the Obi-Martin side, Mail Sport understands the decision to depart Arsenal wasn’t financially motivated.

He and his team had doubts over his potential path into the first team.

Arsenal’s regard for Obi-Martin is reflected by the fact Mail Sport understands that Mikel Arteta spoke to him and the player’s team about his pathway to the first team and how he would be developed.

But with Obi-Martin now on his way out – and Manchester United strongly linked to the prolific forward – the attention turns to the futures of Arsenal’s current academy graduates.

Privately, club executives are pleased with the money raised from their academy.

Emile Smith Rowe is joining Fulham for £35million — a club record sale while Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah have also been linked with moves elsewhere.

If the pair do leave, the sums will likely be in excess of £10m and £35m respectively.

There is another common line of thinking: that Arteta is averse to using academy players in his first team with the club now in a position to challenge for major honours.

This reached fever pitch last season in Arsenal’s dead-rubber Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven in December, the Gunners having already secured top spot in their group.

Ethan Nwaneri, Lino Sousa and Walters all travelled to Eindhoven and made the bench. But none of them were called upon. It was baffling, and not the first time an opportunity to play youngsters has been spurned.

Yet Mail Sport understands Arteta personally feels a heavy responsibility for the welfare of academy players.

If a player is rushed too quickly into first team football, he fears of the long-term effect it can have.

Arteta is also acutely aware that he is in the firing line if it goes wrong.

Nwaneri who is expected to be the next cab off the rank.

The 17-year-old is liked by Arteta and has been around the first team for some time.

Arteta made the teenager the youngest player in Premier League history, substituting him on against Brentford in September 2022, aged just 15 years and 181 days.

Since then he has regularly trained with the first team but that has not translated to first team minutes. He did, though, come on in Arsenal’s 6-0 thrashing of West Ham in February — the only current academy player to feature for the first team last season in the league.

The north London club’s pre-season tour of the US so far has already hinted at what Nwaneri’s first team involvement will be in the upcoming campaign.

Against Bournemouth last Wednesday, he was the last starting outfield player to be substituted. Arteta made seven substitutions on the hour mark, including Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira, but not Nwaneri.

Those around the club believe this could well be Nwaneri’s real breakthrough season. He is mature beyond his years and Arteta sees the potential in him.

Myles Lewis-Skelly is another academy player fans could hear plenty about in the coming months.

Typically a midfielder, but behind the scenes Arteta has been moulding Lewis-Skelly into an inverted left back.

It was the position he started in against Bournemouth in Los Angeles.

The 17-year-old stood out, both in his defensive work — putting in well-timed tackles — but also his ease at inverting into midfield on attacks.

If there are injuries in the backline this season, Lewis-Skelly will be in contention for a spot, either on the bench or in the starting XI.

It remains to be seen how Obi-Martin fares at his next club. But what is for certain is that at Arsenal, their academy is bearing fruits in the form of pound notes and the odd gem, too.