The constant influx of talented Nigerian teen players to Europe from grassroot teams and academies as against players in the various level of Nigerian Leagues have always been a hot topic.

While stars from the Nigerian League notably the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) head to second tier European football league or North Africa, players from local academies have moved to top leagues within same period.

An agent who has been involved in the transfer of several Nigerian players to Europe reckons, players from academies in Nigeria are mostly far talented, level headed and committed than players from the league.

” I will give you a straight forward answer, Nigeria League players are above all scared of going on trials to top clubs in Europe. They prefer a deal with any team abroad as long as the pay is higher than what they are earning in Nigeria”, Mark Williams told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” Players from Academies in Nigeria are quick to jump at trial opportunities. It has helped them make their mark in top European teams and league, beside due to their age teams believe they can still improve.

” Aside that they have more quality than players in the league. It hurts to say so but the facts don’t lie. They are more enterprising, not scared of taking risks and above all very dedicated”.

Super Eagles hopeful Anthony Nwakaeme continued his fine form in front of goal for Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva, by scoring his 9th league goal but 12 for the season in all competition in their 3-1 win over Beitar Jerusalem.

While Nwakaeme is making a strong case for his consideration by coach of the Super Eagles, Fenerbahce forward Emmanuel Emenike who was earlied rumoured to be on the wishlist of Rohr appears to have lost his early season spark.

He is now the third choice strike behind Moussa Sow and Robin Van Persie, but even in the absence of Van Persie he was an unused substitute as Antalyaspor defeated Fenerbahce 1-0.

Junior Ajayi who has been in fine goal scoring form for Al-Ahly of Egypt has also failed to find the back of the net in their last two games, as he once again fired blank in their 0-0 draw with ENPPI.

Just like Ajayi, Super Eagles forward Brown Ideye has also gone two games without a goal, a shocking statistic going by his fine scoring form for Olympiakos of Greece.

Ideye was on for over an hour but failed to get on the score sheet in their 2-0 win away to PAS Giannina, while in Cyprus Shehu Abdullahi suffered a 2-1 loss with Anorthosis against Apoel Nicosia.

The Gunners will travel to Germany to play the Bundesliga champions on Wednesday February 15th. The second leg will take place at the Emirates on Tuesday March 7th.

It means Arsene Wenger’s men face a particularly difficult run of games around that period of the season.

They’re away to Chelsea on February 4th, away in Munich on the 15th, and travel to Southampton on the 25th.

Then, right before the second leg they play Liverpool at Anfield – a game which has yet to be moved for television but which could take place on the Saturday or Sunday depending on the whims of the broadcasters.

Courtesy: Arseblog

Arsenal forward Chuba Akpom made his long awaited return to training from the injury that has sidelined him for over two months.

Akpom who was tipped by many to have a stellar season with Arsenal after a fairly successful time on loan with then Championship side Hull City, who are now in the Premier League returned to light training today.

However the positive from his return to training is that he has start practicing with the ball , something he couldn’t do few months ago during his rehabilitation. Process.

His return to injury coincides with same period when coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr arrived England for talks with English players with Nigerian heritage.

For long England youth international Akpom has been chased by Nigeria national team selectors, but the forward who spent some time in Nigeria during the summer break has requested for more time to makeup his mind about dumping England for Nigeria.