Ozyakup Indebted To RVP

19 year old Oguzhan Ozyakup has revealed that Robin van Persie has been a father figure to him since he arrived at the club.

Speaking to arsenal.com after making his first team debut only a few weeks back in the Carling Cup, the youngster said he owes everything to van Persie who took him under his wing from the moment he joined the club back in 2008.

‘To be honest it is mostly Robin who I look up to because he is Dutch and he really looks after me outside of football as well. I am really happy he looks after me like this. I never expected him to help me that much but I am really thankful that he does for me.’

It’s not just off the field stuff that van Persie has helped him with though, Ozyakup is also more than delighted with the on pitch hints and tips that he receives.

‘It’s those little things he does that are perfect and what I look up to. He says little things like congratulations. The Manchester United game when I was on the bench he said ‘when you come on I know you can do anything with the ball, but without it make sure the tackles are for you’. He gives you little tactics and it is unbelievable.’

Now the youngster is looking for more pitch time and is hoping he will again be involved in the Carling Cup before possibly following others and experiencing a loan spell to develop him further.

‘I don’t know what is going to happen. Obviously I want to play in the first team regularly but it depends what is happening. I would like to go out and play somewhere every week and to play every game.’

He’ll no doubt get his wish as Wenger does like the youngsters to get some good first team experience.