Jamie Vardy's Former Strike Partner Tips Akinola To Break Into Arsenal First Team

Tim Akinola's former coach at non-league club Brighouse Town FC, Vill Powell has tipped the box-to-box Nigerian-born midfielder to break into Arsenal's first team.

The promising teenager recently joined the Gunners on a two-year deal, in a move that has been brewing since May 2020 after he opted not to extend his contract with Championship club Huddersfield Town.

Akinola spent a portion of last season on loan at Brighouse Town, where he impressed Powell, a former strike partner of Premier League Golden Boot winner, Jamie Vardy at Stocksbridge Park Steels.

"The way I see the deal, I'm looking at Tim getting some sort of first team football next season," Powell said to The Sun UK.

"They're going to have a lot of games in Europe, some in a short period of time.

"I can certainly see where he would get an opportunity at Arsenal, with some of the attributes he showed at us. From a defensive point of view he's excellent in the tackle.

"And given his age and the length of the deal, it tells me that he will get an opportunity to play at some point.

"I also feel that he is the sort of player that will raise his game being around better players."

Tim Akinola did not get make his competitive debut for Huddersfield Town's first team before ending his association with the club.