Omari Hutchinson is having a strong season with the Arsenal u18s, as he continues his steady progression through the ranks with the club.
Many of you may have first heard about Hutchinson when he was just 12 years old, and F2Freestylers posted a video showcasing the youngster’s skill moves. It’s currently sitting at over four million views, and if I ever tweet about the player I know I’m going to get a response from someone mentioning the clip.
Five years later, Hutchinson is proving a rare example of a viral child footballer starting to live up to his hype. He hasn’t been rushed through the academy ranks, but he’s stepped up year-by-year to his current position as a starter for the u18s.
In 12 league games this campaign, the 17-year-old has two goals and seven assists, making him the joint-top creator in the division. He scored an excellent goal against Tottenham Hotspur in January, and he set up an injury-time winner against West Ham United this week.
Steve Bould has also taken notice of Hutchinson, giving him a spot on the bench when the Arsenal u23s beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium.
That game was shortly after he was handed his first professional contract with the club, immediately following his 17th birthday (when you become eligible for a pro deal). Arsenal were clearly keen to get him tied down.
What does he do best?
Hutchinson is a very skilful player, as you’d expect given his history. But as you move up the ranks you tend to have fewer opportunities to rainbow-flick the ball over an opponent’s head, or flip-flap your way into the box, so you have to have more to your game than tricks.
Thankfully, Hutchinson does. He’s a speedy dribbler, and his short stature gives him the agility to hurdle challenges and turn defenders inside-out. He also has good vision and awareness to play the through balls and reverse passes that have got him so many assists this season.
The left-footed teenager takes plenty of set-pieces, providing goals and assists from free-kicks this season, and he has a Pepe-style shot on him if he gets into the right positions to cut inside and have a go.
What position does he play?
Part of what makes Hutchinson’s season so far so impressive is that he’s had to play a number of roles for the team. He’s started at left-back, on the wings, and in midfield, depending on where he’s needed.
Arguably, he’s at his best in the number 10 role. As a creative player who is good in tight spaces, that’s where he can express himself.
Yet I wouldn’t rule him out as a potential future left-back. He has experience there and all the right attributes for the position on the ball. It’s just a question of whether he could continue to develop his game off it.
Having said that, it seems the club mostly intend to use him on the wings or at 10 for now.
What does the rest of the season hold?
Most likely, Hutchinson will remain with the u18s until the end of the current campaign. As well as he’s playing, there’s a lot of competition ahead of him in the u23s.
As an example, Catalin Cirjan had to drop down to the u18s for minutes this week, after Kido Taylor-Hart and Ben Cottrell took up the spaces in Bould’s side against Manchester United last Friday. There’s also Charlie Patino and Miguel Azeez for competition in midfield, and Trae Coyle and George Lewis in the wide positions. Even Folarin Balogun and Nikolaj Moller have often played wide this season.
If Hutchinson continues his progress throughout the rest of the campaign, the u23 chances will surely come later this year. He’ll still be eligible for u18 football even next season, so there’s no rush.