Arsenal youngster Chuba Akpom eager for more first-team opportunities

Arsenal youngster Chuba Akpom is willing to play "anywhere" – even in goal – for the Gunners first-team. The 20-year-old forward made his first start for Arsenal in their 4-0 win against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night (20 September) and relished the experience.

Akpom was primarily deployed on the left flank in Arsenal's one-sided win at the City Ground and although it was an unfamiliar role for the youngster, he was more than happy to be handed an opportunity to impress.

"I think right now I'd play anywhere, I'd play in goal just to get minutes, just to be involved in the team," he told Arsenal's official website. "I didn't mind playing on the wing today, I'll play anywhere the boss wants me to play, but today it was still an attacking position and I just tried to be as much of a threat as I could."

Akpom hopes that his full debut marks his first serious step towards becoming a regular in the Arsenal team. The youngster could earn more first-team opportunities in the EFL Cup after Arsenal progressed into the fourth round of the competition.

"It's a chance for us players to show the boss what we can do. The boss wants to rest a few players for the cup and it's just for us to go out there and show everyone what we can do," he said.

Asked what he hopes to achieve with Arsenal this season, the forward explained: "Hopefully more games and more minutes. The feeling of just going out there with an Arsenal top on and just playing is the best feeling and that's the feeling that I want to have, so I've just got to keep working hard in training and keep working hard to just get out there and get as many minutes as I can."