Chinedu Ogbuke (Edu) has been linked to Arsenal before due to his impressive performances for the Eagles in the World Youth Championships of 2005.

It was also reported that Arsenal had sent scouts to Norway to have him watched on several occasions and were interested in signing him during the 2006 summer transfer window. So were CCSK Moscow and Liverpool.

In December of that year a deal with another Moscow club this time Lokomotiv looked set to materialize. However this did not go through due to both the manager and president leaving the club. He has since had trials at Wigan and later at Portsmouth but concerns over work permit problems put Hary Redknapp off.

He joined Lyn in 2005 at the same time as Jon Obi Mikel (now of course with Chelsea) and was previously a youth player with the Shell Academy in Nigeria. He was Young player of the year in Norway for 2006.

He is considered to have an eye for goal and this is backed up by his impressive goal scoring record in Norway of 5 goals in only 8 appearances (62%). The last one against Rosenborg (2-1) where he scored Lyn’s both goals, last Monday.

Edu who is only 21 years old has recently been linked with Tottenham, Wigan, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Celtic. Although his age may appeal to Wenger the price may eventually be bid up as there are a host of clubs interested.

However due to his age and relative inexperience I can only see Edu as being another skillful player with potential. What Arsenal need of course is an experienced forward who is a proven goal scorer.

The team has lost a lot of experienced players and we do not want to see a rudderless ship again wandering in the heavy waters of next season’s highly competitive Premiership League. A repeat in other words of the effects of when Vieira departed.

Wenger of course may have spotted the possibility of using him in the wide positions as well as a providing cover as a forward.

His agent is John Shittu who also represented John Obi Mikel during his controversial move to Chelsea which saw The Blues pay Lyn £4 million and Manchester United £12 million to sign the midfielder.

By 1970's Gooner

Post by Arsenal Analysis