Arsenal have designed a specialised programme to guide Hale End academy gem Chido Obi-Martin to first-team stardom.

Chido Obi-Martin is one of the most exciting youth prospects currently on the books at Arsenal.

The 16-year-old striker has been in sensational form this season. Obi-Martin has broken records with his goalscoring exploits at youth level. He has netted 29 goals in just 17 outings in the under-18s Premier League this season. 

Under-18s manager Jack Wilshere has been seriously impressed by Obi-Martin’s progress, and Mikel Arteta will now be keeping a keen eye on the teenager’s development. 

The North London club have concocted a plan to help the youngster achieve his potential at the club. 

Speaking to The Athletic, under-21s coach Mehmet Ali has now provided an insight into how Arsenal have constructed Obi-Martin’s schedule in a unique way in order to give him a more rounded experience of playing youth-level football.

How Arsenal are developing Chido Obi-Martin

Obi-Martin has featured across several age groups this season, as he has turned out for the under-18s, the under-21s, under-19s, and under-17s.

Explaining the thinking behind this approach, Ali said: “The reason we have a mixed programme is because we want him to have joy, confidence and success and find it easy at times, but also be challenged at others.

“It’s about exposing them to a lot and giving them an opportunity to reflect, look at where they are at and then go away and work.

“You do get early developers who shine when they’re in their own age group and then, when everyone catches them up physically or they play against someone bigger and stronger, they have no other coping strategy to survive in those moments.

“By giving players who are early developers a mixed programme, it really does support their growth.”

Why Arsenal must be cautious with Chido Obi-Martin

Arsenal will be hoping that this system helps Obi-Martin to gradually adapt to the physicality of the older age groups. Ultimately, it will be hoped that the young Dane can make the step up to the first-team at the Emirates Stadium, and that he will be able to cope with the rigours of senior football by the time he reaches that stage in his career.

Due to his blistering form, plenty of Arsenal fans will be keen to see Arteta hand Obi-Martin a chance to shine for the first-team as quickly as possible. However, there has to be a level of pragmatism when it comes to managing a prodigious talent such as this.

Introducing Obi-Martin to senior football too quickly could backfire catastrophically, and result in his confidence being devastated if it becomes obvious that he isn’t ready to compete at that level. Arsenal need to be patient with the Denmark under-17s international. He will surely get his chance in time.