Benik Afobe

England Under 17 International Benik Afobe has gone from strength to strength after exploding onto the scene with 40 goals in 33 appearances for Arsenal’s Under 16’s in 2007.

Benik was first introduced to fans on this blog, but he’s now considered one of the best young forwards in the country. The 2008-2009 season saw the Dagenham-born marksman made full time at London Colney despite being a schoolboy. He was also made captain of the Under 16’s.

Having single handily dragged the Gunners through two Nike Cup tournaments, he claimed the top scorer prize during the Zinédine Zidane Tournament and played a key part in the Atalanta Cup win. Benik’s quantity of strikes was only matched by the quality of his finishes.

With 120 goals under his belt for the Under 16’s, Steve Bould inducted the powerful forward into his ranks. His debut brought a vital equaliser against Fulham, and to really show his quality, the physically imposing striker added the icing to the Gunners cake when he scored on his Youth Cup debut at Sunderland. He finished the campaign as a bit part player for the Under 18’s but still managed 12 goals, making him the Reserves and Youth’s top scoring striker.

England recognition has followed, and with a pedigree of 4 goals in 3 games, the Under 16’s claimed the SkySports Victory Shield in convincing fashion. He went on to eclipse Jack Wilshere’s Reserves debut record, when he entered the field aged 16 years and 4 days. Yet the best from the 2008-2009 season was still to come.

Afobe shone when given a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to train with the Brazilian National team at Emirates Stadium. He got stuck in while rubbing shoulders with the likes of Ronaldinho, Robinho and Kaka, even bagging a classy brace against Inter Milan stopper Julio Cesar in a training game.

A powerful, energetic, strong and pacy forward, Benik, who was one of the players Arsène Wenger famously said ‘had nothing left to learn technically’, signed scholarship terms in June 2009.

Name: Benik Afobe
Nickname: ‘El Nino’
Age: 16
Nationality: English
International: Under 16
Position: Striker
Height: 180cm
Previous Clubs: None
Contract : Scholarship


39 Responses to “Benik Afobe”

  1. [...] Guns has introduced many young players to fans, including strikers Benik Afobe and Jeffery Monakana plus many others, and now we will tell you about [...]

    Young Gunners Profile - Samir Carrurthers « [» Young Guns ! «] said this on April 18, 2008 at 7:42 pm

  2. benik is really good and easily the best player at his school he also scored a hat-trick against my school team and he has really good finishing as well as strenght

    charlie said this on April 20, 2008 at 12:34 pm

  3. [...] Benik Afobe scored his 29th, 30th, 31st and 32nd goals of a superb season. Left midfielder Joshua Rees notched [...]

    Arsenal’s Under 16s Beat Toulouse 8-0 In Friendly « [» Young Guns ! «] said this on April 26, 2008 at 10:29 pm

  4. He is going to play the yr 10s in my school(rushcroft) will he play

    Leon said this on April 28, 2008 at 2:14 pm

  5. what a player, I just hope He live up to expectation…. good luck lad

    tunde said this on May 4, 2008 at 5:15 pm

  6. He is to good to be 15 years old

    Hamid said this on May 7, 2008 at 1:57 pm

  7. [...] Benik Afobe [...]

    FIFA In Favour Of The Ludacris ’six-plus-five’ Rule « Gooner Talk said this on May 30, 2008 at 12:22 pm

  8. BENIK AFOBE A.K.A “THE BOSS PLAYA”! DREAM CREAM TEAM SUPREME!

    FUGAYZI said this on July 1, 2008 at 5:59 pm

  9. Hi J,

    Can you update news on Benik, as well as Conor Henderson?
    Is Conor and Benik, like Wilshere, the “next big thing” as well?

    Merlion96 said this on August 5, 2008 at 1:56 am

  10. [...] Walcott hit a stunning treble against Croatia at full International level, and now star striker Benik Afobe has joined two other young Gunners in the Under 16’s squad for the forthcoming Victory [...]

    Arsenal’s Afobe In England Squad For Sky Sports Shield « [» Young Guns ! «] said this on September 12, 2008 at 5:36 pm

  11. [...] Walcott hit a stunning treble against Croatia at full International level, and now star striker Benik Afobe has joined two other young Gunners in the Under 16’s squad for the forthcoming Victory [...]

    Arsenal’s Afobe In England Squad For Sky Sports Shield | Euro 2008 - Switzerland & Austria said this on September 13, 2008 at 10:59 am

  12. This guy sounds the business. Let’s hope he can continue his improvement through to the senior level.

    rvpmpc14 said this on September 14, 2008 at 1:03 pm

  13. Ye he deep

    Im the stiker hu played for coventry and scored 2 agaist you

    Isaac said this on September 25, 2008 at 9:38 am

  14. [...] fans as one of the most exciting young players in the country, and this evening the profile of Benik Afobe went international as the youngster bagged his first goals for his country in the opening fixture [...]

    Arsenal’s Afobe At The Double As England Beat Ireland « [» Young Guns ! «] said this on October 3, 2008 at 11:44 pm

  15. [...] a fantastic double for England in the opening fixture of the SkySports Victory Shield last week, Benik Afobe’s rapidly growing profile has hit [...]

    Watch Benik Afobe’s Brace For England Against Ireland « [» Young Guns ! «] said this on October 7, 2008 at 6:19 pm

  16. hesa gd finsisher

    GunnerRashidinho said this on October 11, 2008 at 5:06 pm

  17. Benik Afobe is a Congo descent player. Wish him to play for Congo.

    Anthony said this on October 22, 2008 at 6:58 am

  18. [...] Of The Month – October 2008 – Benik Afobe Striker Benik Afobe has collected the Lamb Awards sponsored Young Guns Player Of The Month crown for October 2008, [...]

    Player Of The Month - October 2008 - Benik Afobe « [» Young Guns ! «] said this on November 1, 2008 at 8:13 pm

  19. [...] Chasing Michael Owen’s Historic England Record Arsenal striker Benik Afobe will take to the field for England’s Under 16’s tomorrow evening, knowing a hat-trick [...]

    Afobe Chasing Michael Owen’s Historic England Record « [» Young Guns ! «] said this on November 26, 2008 at 8:53 pm

  20. before benik left to go full time at arsenal, he was in my classes at school….. he is so nice and i wish him the best, i still see him now and again ad he is doin very well and tonight has scored for england against scotland……….number 9………. go on benik !!!!!!!!!!!!

    jemma said this on November 28, 2008 at 10:01 pm

  21. afobes date of birth and year anyone im looking for it for a long

    utk said this on November 29, 2008 at 12:07 pm

  22. his date of birth is 12/02/93

    james said this on December 2, 2008 at 12:30 am

  23. thanks mate

    utk said this on December 5, 2008 at 11:38 am

  24. Benik, heard about this guy. Awsome young gun – be looking out for another lad who goes to my school Jack Barlow, on trial at Manchester United he is 14, playing for under 16’s the future of England.

    J Garner said this on January 6, 2009 at 11:57 pm

  25. Benik he’s too much congolese boy doing it big for his country aswell keep it up.

    You’ve got a sucessful life ahead of you don’t let anything get in the way.

    KJ said this on January 23, 2009 at 1:56 pm

  26. I think, as talented as he is, he is a little bit of a jerk. On facebook i congratulated him on his recent England youth performances and he told me to F off, Maybe he needs to get down to earth a lil’ bit.

    jordan said this on January 27, 2009 at 1:35 am

  27. [...] Benik Afobe’s rapid rate of development is simply phenomenal. The free scoring striker eclipsed Jack Wilshere’s Reserves debut record yesterday, when he entered the field aged 16 years and 4 days.Although he only featured for the closing 10 minutes, his inclusion in the squad capped off what has already been an explosive season so far. [...]

    Afobe Quietly Becomes Arsenal’s Brightest Prospect « [» Young Guns «] said this on February 17, 2009 at 6:46 pm

  28. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1981536.ece

    GunnerRashidinho said this on February 17, 2009 at 7:23 pm

  29. [...] Afobe Signs Scholarship Forms With Arsenal After turning 16 last week, striker Benik Afobe has now signed scholarship terms with the club, securing his long term [...]

    Benik Afobe Signs Scholarship Forms With Arsenal « [» Young Guns «] said this on February 22, 2009 at 3:49 pm

  30. I heard he broked his leg?

    ali said this on April 1, 2009 at 2:56 pm

  31. You heard wrong.

    Gianni23 said this on April 7, 2009 at 5:59 pm

  32. Put there birthdate not there age.

    shane said this on July 14, 2009 at 5:07 pm

  33. [...] after being selected to play for England in forthcoming fixtures. The trio of Zak Ansah, Benik Afobe and Roarie Deacon will all play at different age levels for the Three Lions but have nonetheless [...]

    Arsenal’s Ansah, Afobe & Deacon Earn England Call Ups « [» Young Guns «] said this on October 2, 2009 at 9:43 pm

  34. Benik just needs to keep working & developing on everything [Finishing on left & right foot, technique/dribbling, passing, movement off the ball, 1st touch, heading, tactically, plyometrics for physical improvement & mentally]

    Supergunner07 said this on October 20, 2009 at 1:42 pm

  35. I hope Barcelona fail to steal this kid from us….

    giandano said this on November 5, 2009 at 6:46 am

  36. I really hope Barcelona fail to snatch this kid & Aneke from us….

    giandano said this on November 5, 2009 at 6:47 am

  37. Ive heard Sanmi Odelusi has recently been signed for bolton wanderers. Benik’s strike partner in Secondary School. Anyone know the school they went to?

    PirezFrench1 said this on November 18, 2009 at 2:56 pm

  38. sick player arsenal need to keep hold of him he will be brilliant in the future

    ed said this on December 17, 2009 at 12:33 pm

  39. arsenal legend in the making

    nieno said this on December 17, 2009 at 10:41 pm

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