Former Arsenal youngster Xavier Amaechi has revealed that a potential lack of opportunities in the first team saw him quit the club for Hamburg in 2019.
The 20-year-old was developed through the Gunners’ Hale End academy and was seen as one of the most promising youngsters in the club’s youth set-up alongside the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
However, he was never handed an opportunity in the first team and joined German outfit Hamburger SV on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract.
He has since struggled to make an impact in the 2. Bundesliga, including during a loan to Karlsruher SC, and has joined League One side Bolton Wanderers on another temporary deal.
Whilst Amaechi has admitted that so far, the move has not panned out how it was first expected, he is still optimistic of his chances of success after seeing Jadon Sancho thrive with Dortmund after he made a similar move by quitting boyhood club Manchester City.
Talking to our sister title the Manchester Evening News, Amaechi said: “It is different for everyone. You see English players going to different countries.
“Sancho probably started it for the English players. I had a picture in my head of what I wanted to do but it didn’t work out in the first two years. That doesn’t mean my career is over, everyone has their own path.
“I could have stayed in the bubble (at Arsenal) but I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I learned a new language, so I can speak a bit of German now, and it is all good for life.
“My sole purpose going to Hamburg was to play football because at Arsenal I didn’t feel like it was the right place for me to break through and get those minutes.”
Intriguingly, Sancho comes up against the Gunners on Thursday evening having endured a difficult start to life with Manchester United following his big-money move from Dortmund.
He has netted just two goals for the club, with his first in the Premier League coming in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Meanwhile, one of those who was handed a chance at Arsenal - Bukayo Saka - opened the scoring against strugglers Newcastle United at the weekend.
