Akpom - I’m hungry to prove myself

Chuba Akpom says he is "hungry" to prove that he is ready for first-team football.

The 19-year-old made his second Arsenal appearance this season after coming on as an 84th-minute substitute in the 2-0 defeat at Southampton on New Year’s Day.

Despite the result, Akpom is pleased to have been given a chance and is looking forward to his next opportunity to impress.

“I’m really feeling part of the team,” the striker told Arsenal Player. “I’m starting to train with them a bit more and I’m getting more of a feel about how it is to be on the bench.

“I’m just dying to get on every game and every minute counts. I try my best to make the most of each opportunity that I get, so when I went out there I just gave 100 per cent.

“Every game I’m hoping to get an opportunity. I just want to play. I’m hungry for it now. I want to show the boss what I’m made of and I think that I’m ready. I think I can have a good impact on the team. Hopefully I get a chance.”

Despite coming on with the team already 2-0 down at St Mary’s, Akpom says he was determined to make an impact.

“You’ve just got to stay positive,” he said. "I was just thinking, ‘How can I help the team?’ I tried to make as many runs as I could in behind, press the keeper and the defenders. I was hoping to come on and try to get a goal for the team but it didn’t work out.

“We have to forget about this game. We’ve been playing good football and it was an unfortunate result. The lads are a bit down but we just want to move onto the next game and see what happens.”