Deep down, despite all the public backing, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim must know Rasmus Hojlund is unlikely to come good before the season concludes.
He is young and has potential and if he does end up staying, the Dane could still rediscover his best form in the coming campaign but currently, his confidence is at an all-time low and he looks like a player who does not even know how to perform basic tasks.
Once again, the 22-year-old ended yet another game with 0 shots and 0 dribbles against Real Sociedad, unacceptable for a United striker. Which is why the head coach must think of making a change.
Given Joshua Zirkzee is not a natural No 9, the only remaining option is Academy wonderkid Chido Obi, who impressed in his cameo against Fulham in the FA Cup.
Arteta on Chido’s departure
What better game to hand him his first start than against his former club Arsenal at Old Trafford in front of an adoring crowd with the youngster clearly having a point to prove to his current and former boss.
Before the game, the Gunners manager Mikel Arteta was asked about the 17-year-old and why he left the club, and the Spaniard termed his departure as “very unfortunate”.
He also claimed that the North London club tried their hardest to keep a hold of him as well as Ayden Heaven, who also left the London club for United.
“I wasn’t too involved in that decision. When a player decides the best pathway is to leave there’s not much you can do.
“Very unfortunate because we want to keep our players from the academy and to be very successful with the first team. But in that case, also with Ayden [Heaven], we weren’t able to do that.”
Can he make the difference on Sunday?
Chido Obi chose to move to Old Trafford as he was concerned with the pathway to senior football at the Emirates. And given he has already made his first-team debut here, it is clear to see that he did make the right choice.
But Arteta pointed to Arsenal’s recent record of bringing in youth stars like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to make his point that the club still believe in youth.
“I don’t know what the perception is, externally or not and the reality is very different. I guarantee you, if there is a player there that can help and impact the first-team he’s going to be with us.”
Hopefully, Chido Obi, whether he starts or comes on as a substitute, can do his talking on the pitch. Amorim has very few options at the moment at his disposal and he needs his players to come up with something special on Sunday.
Feature image Matt McNulty via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
