Suspended Arsenal youngster Chido Obi has certainly made the most of the international break, scoring twice for the Denmark u17s.
Arsenal 15-year-old Chido Obi-Martin has been making his mark in the Gunners’ u18 side this season, scoring a hat-trick against Southampton in September on his first 90-minute appearance for the side.
But the youngster had a rough start to October, picking up a straight red card for a high foot against Leicester City last weekend.
Obi will likely receive a three-match ban for the sending-off, ruling him out of the next few u18 matches. But in the meantime, the striker was called up by the Denmark u17s for international duty.
Denmark were playing u17 European Championship qualifiers over the break, and Obi featured in all three of their matches.
First, the striker helped his side get off to a winning start against Lithuania.
Lithuania had taken an early lead from the penalty spot, but Jonathan Moalem equalised in the 17th minute, before Arsenal’s Obi gave Denmark the lead less than a minute later.
Obi robbed the defence of the ball, before holding off a challenge and finishing into the far corner.
Chido Obi’s goal for the Denmark u17s against Lithuania in Wednesday’s Euro u17 qualifier #AFC pic.twitter.com/vISHm374FO
— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) October 12, 2023
Obi played 45 minutes against Georgia in Denmark’s second game of the break, a 2-1 defeat, before helping them to a draw with Austria with another goal.
Holding off a defender with ease, Obi raced in behind the back line before chipping the goalkeeper.
Not great quality footage but here’s Obi’s second goal of the break, this one against the Austria u17s #AFC https://t.co/cEtNivXqQ9 pic.twitter.com/AUyCiW96ne
— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) October 19, 2023
Only a win would have been enough to send Denmark through to the next round, given a draw only put Denmark level on points with second-placed Georgia, who had the head-to-head advantage over them.
As a result, Denmark won’t progress to the next round of Euro qualifiers. But 15-year-old Obi can be pleased with his own contributions to their break, playing above his age group.