Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom has revealed hopes that manager Arsene Wenger will keep him at the club for the upcoming season so he can fight for a place in the first team.

The 19-year-old has had loan spells at Brentford, Coventry City and Nottingham Forest, but the forward is keen to make his breakthrough at the Emirates.

"I would rather stay here and compete with the other strikers," the London Evening Standard quotes Akpom as saying. "There is a lot of talent in the team but I think I am capable of competing and getting a place in the team.

"The boss really likes playing young players when he can and that motivates the other young players."

Akpom scored a hat-trick in the Gunners' 4-0 win over Singha All-Star XI in a pre-season friendly earlier this month.