Chido Obi-Martin scored a 14-minute hat-trick on his first start for Manchester United’s Under-18s on Saturday.
The 16-year-old racing out of the blocks in the famous red shirt will be enough to make Arsenal bosses wince after they were unable to tie him down to a long-term contract earlier this year. Obi-Martin tore up the Under-18 Premier League last season with a staggering 32 goals in 18 matches.
And he sank Arsenal hearts by walking away and signing for United during the summer. Youth team coaches have reportedly been impressed by what they have seen from Obi-Martin so far, and he made his debut for the U18s as a substitute in a 4-3 win over Sunderland last weekend.
The teenage prodigy was rewarded with a start against Nottingham Forest U18s on Saturday and he struck in just 13 seconds. Pouncing on a loose pass and rounding the goalkeeper, Obi-Martin notched his first goal in United colours and two more quickly followed.
Another instance of slack defending led to the second, inside four minutes. There was still plenty to do when the ball landed at his feet 17 yards out, and he fired a clinical finish low into the far corner.
Just over 13 minutes were on the clock by the time Obi-Martin became a hat-trick hero. Latching onto James Scanlon’s cross from the left, he turned in another accurate strike, this time with his left foot.
Arsenal were reportedly unable to reach an agreement with Obi-Martin’s camp due to a big difference between the player’s wage demands and what the Gunners were willing to pay. It is also understood that the young striker wanted to go straight into the Under-21s squad.
Obi-Martin has started with United’s U18s but if his goal-scoring exploits continue at such a rapid pace, promotion through the various youth ranks will be inevitable. Senior team manager Erik ten Hag could end up being spoilt for choice, with teenage forward Gabriele Biancheri also scoring for fun this campaign.
Biancheri has bagged eight goals in five U18 Premier League games, once in one Premier League 2 match, and a brace in his only UEFA Youth League appearance.
Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund are the two strikers currently battling it out for minutes in Ten Hag’s first team. But with just one Premier League goal apiece this term, the door could be ajar for a high-flying youngster to be given a big opportunity over the coming months.
