Chido Obi form at Manchester United has annoyed Arsenal figures, after Mikel Arteta intervention

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Manchester United are bringing through young talent Chido Obi to give a much needed jolt to the team.

While many United fans wanted to see Ruben Amorim be bolder and bring youngsters off the bench against Tottenham, the head coach was a little more cautious.

The only young substitute Amorim brought on was 17-year-old striker Chido Obi, and this was notable, as striker is one issue where United do not currently have injury problems.

It demonstrated Ruben Amorim feels Obi is genuinely good enough to make an impact now, certainly in comparison to United’s current goal-shy strikers.

Chido Obi decision to leave Arsenal has annoyed them

Chido Obi scored 32 goals for Arsenal’s academy last season. He has already scored 15 times for Manchester United this season, having only been granted his debut in mid-October, and the academy season pausing for three weeks over Christmas.

Arsenal have a striker crisis up front and he could have taken advantage. But that’s hypothetical, as we have now seen him actually make his debut for Manchester United, without relying on injuries to do so, justifying his decision.

According to The Mail, Chido Obi’s decision continues to cause frustration at his former club, with it reported: “His form at United rankles with those at Arsenal who felt they had made a compelling pitch for Obi to stay, only for him to inform them in July that after two years he wanted to head for pastures new.”

The report adds: “Arsenal made a lucrative contract offer and first-team boss Mikel Arteta is understood to have intervened to try and map out his vision for the player’s future, which included training with the first team and playing Under 21s football this season where the schedule allowed.”

Chido Obi status for FA Youth Cup unclear

Chido Obi netted a hat-trick in Manchester United’s 5-1 FA Youth Cup win over Chelsea, making it seven goals in three games in the competition.

This has set up a FA Youth Cup quarter-final away at Chido Obi’s former club Arsenal, an interesting showdown, one that could test him from a mental perspective too.

But there is now no guarantee Chido Obi even plays. He could be involved for the first team, with the tie taking place on February 28, between Manchester United’s Premier League and FA Cup games at home to Ipswich Town at Fulham.

If United feel they can do without Obi at youth level, Gabriele Biancheri could find his time to shine. He has outscored Obi this season, and while they have partnered effectively during the Youth Cup, he is just as capable of leading the line by himself.

It really would be a sign of trust for Biancheri to lead the line away at Arsenal in the Youth Cup by himself, and if he can fire United to the win, it might not be long until he too is joining Chido Obi in the first team.