Cheltenham Town Beat League One Rivals To Arsenal Forward
Cheltenham Town have won the race to sign young Arsenal forward Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, reports Gloucestershire Live.
The 20-year-old striker had been subject to interest from Portsmouth and Cambridge United, however, the Robins appear to have stolen a march over their fellow League One rivals.
Arsenal are aiming to loan out the striker to gain further first-team football in the third tier, following a spell at Accrington Stanley in the second half of last season.
The London-born forward was unable to find the back of the net in his eleven appearances for the Lancashire outfit, but his performances have attracted the interest of multiple League One sides this summer.
Butler-Oyedeji will now become Cheltenham’s sixth loan signing of the summer, following the additions of Oli Hammond (Nottingham Forest), Luciano D’Auria-Henry (Fulham), Owen Bevan (Bournemouth), Cameron Peupion (Brighton & Hove Albion) and fellow deadline day arrival Josh Williams (Birmingham City).
League rules stipulate that only five loan players may be named in a matchday squad, but D’Auria-Henry and Hammond are currently set for a spell out of the team through injury.
The centre-forward has scored once in four games for Arsenal’s U21 side this season, however, it was announced earlier this week that the green light has been given for a temporary move away from the Emirates Stadium, as the Premier League giants feel this is the best course for his continued development.
Meanwhile Cheltenham’s head coach Wade Elliott is aiming to bolster his attacking options, as his side sits at the foot of the League One table, whilst also remarkably being the only team yet to score across the entire EFL.
Writer’s View
Cheltenham Town will be desperate to find a solution to their woes in front of goal this season, as they continue to struggle to fill the hole left by the departure of prolific goal scorer Alfie May earlier this summer.
Whilst Butler-Oyedeji’s record in a similarly struggling Accrington Stanley side last season is nothing to shout about, the young forward has previously scored four times in seven EFL Trophy appearances against League One and Two opposition for Arsenal’s youth side, and a full season under his belt at this level could just be what he and the Robins need this season.
