Akpom - I’m just getting better

Chuba Akpom believes that he will only get better with more first-team experience at Arsenal.

The England Under-20 striker scored a hat-trick in Wednesday’s 4-0 win against a Singapore Select XI to help the Gunners secure their place in the Barclays Asia Trophy final.

Akpom spent the final part of last season on loan at Nottingham Forest and is determined to leave his mark on the Arsenal first team in 2015/16.

“I’m buzzing for the hat-trick but most importantly I’m buzzing for the win,” he told Arsenal Player. “It was a good team performance but it was even better to get a hat-trick. I’m just hoping I can carry on my form for the rest of the pre-season and take it into the season.

“You’ve got to give 100 per cent because you don’t get this chance often, so when you get it you have to make the most of it. Hopefully the boss has seen that I’ve been working hard in training, that I’ve been working hard on the pitch, and hopefully I can get more game time in the season.

“I’ve been at Arsenal since I was six years old, so that’s a few years and I really want to stay here. This season could be a big season for me and with a lot of hard work it could be a breakthrough season for me. The main thing is to stay here and I think the loans have helped me gain experience. I’m just getting better every time.”