Akpom stakes claim to Arsenal spot with Singapore hat-trick

Arsenal will play Everton in the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy on Saturday after the Gunners brushed aside a Singapore Select XI 4-0.

The star of the show was Chuba Akpom, the 19-year-old striker who scored a hat-trick, with Jack Wilshere adding a fourth from the penalty spot in Singapore's National Stadium.

Though it was a one-sided affair, Arsenal never really found their rhythm in what was their first competitive match since thrashing Aston Villa by a similar scoreline in May's FA Cup Final.

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Londoner Akpom, who in recent seasons has been loaned out to Brentford, Coventry City and Nottingham Forest, put the visitors one up on the half-hour mark with a low shot but it wasn't until midway through the second half that Wilshere doubled Arsenal's advantage from the penalty spot after Sirina Camara had felled Mathieu Debuchy in the box. Akpom then added a penalty of his own on 76 minutes before completing his hat-trick with a powerful header from Hector Bellerin's cross.

They were Akpom's first senior goals for Arsenal and eased the north London side into Saturday's final, where they'll be given a sterner examination by Premier League rivals Everton, who earlier in the day had beaten Stoke City 5-4 on penalties.

"Scoring goals is the best feeling, but more importantly the team won," said Akpom, who made seven appearances for Arsenal last season before joining Forest on loan. Asked if he had been given any instructions by Arsene Wenger before the match, the teenager replied: "The manager told me to work hard and go and express myself. I have been trying for a few years now, working hard and trying to show the boss what I am made of."

Akpom said he was "hopeful" of retaining his place in the starting line-up for Saturday's clash with Everton, but the youngster may miss out if Wenger recalls some of his big names. Nine players were omitted from the squad for the Singapore Select game and the Arsenal manager explained: "The players only came back on Friday, and I wanted them to have at least a week of training before they play." As to whether the nine, who include new signing Petr Cech, Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil, will feature against Everton, Wenger said he had "not decided yet".

Nonetheless the Frenchman had some encouraging words for his hat-trick hero, telling reporters that he won't be farmed out again this season. "I sent him out on loan last year because I thought he needed that. But this season no, I plan to keep him with us. It's down to performance and attitude and he has the assets to be a big talent."

Refusing to get carried away by Akpom's performance against a scratch Singapore side, Wenger added: "He's a good talent but... let's not forget it's a friendly. He has to work and show that in every game. So it's down to him."