Arsenal starlet Daniel Oyetunde has revealed that he originally had a trial at Tottenham Hotspur before being offered an opportunity by the Gunners.
Oyetunde has come through the age group ranks at Hale End and broke into the club’s Under-18s set-up last season.
(Photo by Visionhaus)
The centre-forward caught the eye at that level and he has continued in the same vein at the start of the new season with a goal and an assist in the first three U-18 Premier League games (Transfermarkt).
The teenager has already been promoted to train with the Under-21 set-up this season and could even soon be knocking on the door to train with Mikel Arteta’s men.
The youngster has now revealed that before getting an opportunity to move to Arsenal, he had a trial with their North London rivals, who did not offer him a contract.
Oyetunde had a trial with Spurs before Arsenal
Oyetunde added that the experience he had at Spurs ensured that he was better equipped to handle the pressure when he got a chance with the Gunners.
The striker told Arsenal’s official website: “I wasn’t too nervous (when joining Arsenal). I’d been on trial at Tottenham a year earlier so I knew what to expect,” he adds.
“Even though I was never offered a contract there (at Spurs), it gave me the opportunity to experience the level of ability I needed to be at if I wanted to succeed at an academy.
“My trial here started off on the right footing. In our first game against Crystal Palace, I managed to get two assists. And then, within four weeks of my eight-week trial, I was offered a contract at the club.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Let us hope that Oyetunde’s story does not go the same way as that of a certain Harry Kane, with Arsenal famously rejecting the striker before he made his way to the Spurs academy.
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