FETA LATE THAN NEVER
After SIX loan spells from Arsenal, Chuba has found a home.. and hero status.. in Greece
LIFE after Arsenal is starting to feel a lot better for history chasing Chuba Akpom.
It was a huge wrench for the former England Under-21 striker to leave boyhood club Arsenal after 16 years last summer. But his decision to join PAOK Salonika in Greece is beginning to pay off.
The January sale of prolific striker Aleksandar Prijovic opened the door to more regular football at PAOK for the 23-year-old (training with Alexis Sanchez, right). And he has taken his opportunity to help keep PAOK on course for a first Greek title in 34 years.
Akpom’s stunning goal last week in a vital 3-1 win against nearest challengers Olympiakos – his fifth in just six starts and 15 appearances overall – earned him a place in the hearts of PAOK’S fans forever. PAOK are now six points clear with a game in hand, and Akpom (celebrating that victory, right) said: “When you start to play, everything opens up and starts getting better.
“Olympiakos was the biggest game so far in my career. Over here, it’s more than football.
“It’s like a religion and it was the first time I felt the emotion going into the game.
“The fans had been waiting for this game for years. Finally PAOK are above Olympiakos. It was amazing to score and make everyone happy.
“I went into town to eat and everywhere I went people were stopping me to say thank you. I gave them a lot of happiness and they were crying.” Imagine if PAOK clinch the title for the first time since 1985. “In my first season that would be amazing, crazy,” Akpom said. “I’m just trying to be a part of history.
“We are on the right track and, if we can win it, that will be massive. Not just for PAOK, but for Thessaloniki, the whole city.”
Akpom was one of Arsenal’s brightest prospects as he came through the ranks. But he left when he recognised that the first-team chances he craved were never going to come.
Akpom made only four senior appearances for Arsenal and was sent on loan to Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Hull, Brighton and Belgian club Sint-truiden.
“When I moved to Greece, people were asking why,” he said. “I feel like I’m finally justifying the move, finally showing people why I came here.”
Playing for PAOK is not for the faint-hearted, with the intimidating atmosphere at the raucous Toumba Stadium a test of any player’s nerve. Akpom said: “It’s nuts. A lot of pressure. But you can do one of two things – hide or rise to it and use it as motivation.
“I think, ‘Wow, there are 30,000 people watching me do what I do best’. It’s the perfect stage to enjoy.
“The first time I came to the stadium I heard a firework go off in the crowd and jumped! I was not used to that England.”
But some of Akpom’s experiences in England will come in handy as he tries to help PAOK over the finishing line.
He added: “I’ve been in the same situation twice when we were close to getting to the playoffs or promotion at Hull and Brighton, so I know how it feels.
“You’ve got to keep doing what you’ve been doing all season and the games will just fly. And before you know it, it’s done.”