I spent seven years at Arsenal then quit for controversial Chelsea transfer – I had to find a new path

5 months ago 39

OMARI HUTCHINSON has insisted that the decision to quit Arsenal and join rivals Chelsea was right – despite making just TWO first-team appearances.

The 20-year-old winger generated a lot of buzz and excitement when he joined the Blues from the Gunners in the summer of 2022.

Omari Hutchinson is hoping to fire Ipswich Town to promotion this term[/caption]

He appeared to be on the verge of making the breakthrough at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta after his inclusion in a number of matchday squads towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

However, after talks over a new deal broke down, he instead decided to head back across the capital to the club where he was part of their academy until 2012.

Hutchinson soon hit the headlines when scoring a brilliant solo goal to help the U21s beat Leyton Orient 3-2 and he got two appearances under his belt under Graham Potter.

However, following his departure from Chelsea and Todd Boehly’s takeover leading to an influx of new signings, he failed to get any more outings last term.

Then, this summer, he was sent out on loan to Ipswich Town following their promotion to the Championship from League One.

The former England youth international, who has since gone on to be capped twice by Jamaica at senior level, has shown glimpses of his potential for Kieran McKenna’s high-flying Tractor Boys.

And even though he does not appear to be in Mauricio Pochettino’s thoughts at present while at Portman Road, Hutchinson is confident that he can follow in Chelsea captain Reece James’ footsteps, who is now a regular following a previous loan spell at Wigan Athletic.

The starlet told The Athletic: “I was at Arsenal from 11 to playing for the under-23s.

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“I have a lot of friends there and obviously the coaching staff, so it was a difficult decision to leave.

“I always felt loved there. All the fans were waiting for me to push on into the first team. But things didn’t just work out for one reason or another.

“I just had to get over stuff like that. I spoke to the people at Chelsea, saw the pathway they had for me, knew the staff there and some of the players. I already knew Reece James and he told me to come. Everyone gave Chelsea a positive review. I believe it has worked out so far.”

He then added: “Reece has been on the journey that I want to go on — from the academy, to a loan in the Championship, to the first team.

“He told me to go and do my thing at Ipswich, to show what I’m about. Then come back and be ready (for Chelsea).

“Reece was always on my team whenever I trained with the senior squad last season, so I never got to take him on. I hope to be taking him on soon.”