Kane's class - but England need new No.9 to lead World Cup bid

It's too easy for Ramirez! Clinical Chelsea look ominous

England's biggest winners & losers from the Nations League

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

The best Premier League loanees of the season so far

Szoboszlai in tears as Netherlands vs Hungary is halted

Kroos opens door to Real Madrid return 

Why Ronaldo has been released from the Portugal squad

Rashford branded a 'clown' after attending New York Knicks game

Ronaldo sets clear timeline for retirement

Barcelona icon Pique weighs in on Ronaldo & Messi GOAT debate

Neymar move ruled out as Brazilian club president mocks his injury struggles

Real Madrid 'prioritised shirt sales' with Mbappe signing

Manchester City

Manchester United

Liverpool

Arsenal

Chelsea

Other

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Obi-Martin rejected fresh Arsenal terms</li><li>Intensely linked with a move to Man Utd</li><li>Arsenal fans compare him to Van Persie</li></ul>

'Money over passion' - Furious Arsenal fans compare Chido Obi-Martin to Robin van Persie as 16-year-old confirms exit after Man Utd transfer talks

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

Ipswich

<p>Arsenal had offered <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chido-martin-obi-arsenal-erling-haaland-scored-10-against-liverpool-bayern-munich-interest/blt1ef605f96c2fbb35" target="_blank">Obi-Martin new schoolboy terms,</a> as players under 17 cannot sign professional contracts. Despite the club's efforts to retain the 16-year-old, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chido-martin-obi-omitted-from-arsenal-scholarship-intake-free-scoring-teenager-edges-closer-man-utd-move/blt934b19c362f0917d" target="_blank">an agreement could not be reached,</a> leading to his departure.</p><p>In a bid to lure Obi-Martin to their ranks, Manchester United provided the youngster with a private tour of their facilities. Although his next steps have yet to be officially confirmed, Obi-Martin's exit from Arsenal was announced by the player himself through a heartfelt social media post.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Obi-Martin simply wrote "Thank you Arsenal" in the caption of his Instagram post and attached two pictures. In one of them, he is seen celebrating a goal for the Gunners, whereas, in the other picture he wrote a longer message which read: "I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone at Arsenal for the last four years. The experiences and growth I've achieved here have been truly invaluable.</p><p>"A special thanks to the coaches, staff, and teammates at Hale End. The memories made will always be remembered. Thank you once again for this journey. I wish everyone continued success and all the best for the future."</p><p></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-BJSDqM_Ja/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
  <div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-BJSDqM_Ja/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">
      <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
        <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
        <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
      <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
          <g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd">
            <g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000">
              <g>
                <path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path>
              </g>
            </g>
          </g>
        </svg></div>
      <div style="padding-top: 8px;">
        <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div>
      </div>
      <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
      <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
        <div>
          <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div>
          <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
          <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-left: 8px;">
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
          <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-left: auto;">
          <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div>
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div>
          <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
        <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
        <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
      </div>
    </a>
  </div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Several Arsenal fans have reacted to Obi-Martin's departure with disappointment, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/van-persie-sorry-if-man-utd-move-angered-arsenal-fans-but-has-no-regrets/1vbl53nhhi77v1pmqgwuf5w1bx" target="_blank">many drawing parallels to the exit of Robin van Persie</a>. The Dutch forward's move to Manchester United in 2012 still resonates painfully with supporters, not only because he went on to win the Premier League title in his first season at Old Trafford but also because of the profound sense of betrayal and loss felt by the fans upon his departure to a direct rival. Seeing another promising talent potentially head in the same direction revived old wounds and the fans flooded the Instagram post with comments comparing Obi-Martin to Van Persie.</p><p>@modenine_polimaf, wrote: "Chidoobi van Persie 😢"</p><p>Meanwhile, @baxterwalker_ said: "Money over passion <span>we’ve seen this before".</span></p><p>@silly.calafiori posted: "worst move in career bro".</p><p>Another user, @yaqub_wagdi, shared a GIF with a message that read: "You are a disgrace."</p><p>@madoc_b14, wrote: "won't be missed."</p><p></p>

WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

<p>Obi-Martin was in inspirational form last season and netted five hat-tricks in the final nine games of the Under-18 Premier League season. He even scored seven past Norwich in a nine-goal thumping which led United to chase his signature.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>While Obi-Martin's exit is a setback, Arsenal fans have found some solace in the recent acquisition of Riccardo Calafiori. The Italy international centre-back has joined the Gunners from Bologna, bringing hope and excitement following his impressive performances at Euro 2024 and has already met his new teammates in the United States. He might make his debut against Liverpool on July 31 in their next pre-season friendly.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

'Money over passion' - Furious Arsenal fans compare Chido Obi-Martin to Robin van Persie as 16-year-old confirms exit after Man Utd transfer talks | Goal.com

Furious Arsenal fans compared Chido Obi-Martin to Robin van Persie as the 16-year-old confirmed his exit after transfer talks with Manchester United.

&apos;Money over passion&apos; - Furious Arsenal fans compare Chido Obi-Martin to Robin van Persie as 16-year-old confirms exit after Man Utd transfer talks