Though Tammy Abraham is a product of Chelsea academy and a player of the club, he has been a lover of Arsenal football club long before he became a football star.
The 23-year-old English football star is currently one of the most unsettled players in the Premier League as he has been rumored to be one of the players that might exit Stamford Bridge this summer.
The striker seems not to fit into the game plans of Thomas Tuchel who joined the club in February this year after the sacking of Frank Lampard.
Abraham who was the shining light at Chelsea during the 2019-2020 season under coach Lampard has not been able to impress the current coach of the club. He has managed to make just 7 appearances in which he scored a goal under Tuchel.
His form has dropped so badly that the striker who used to be one of the fast-rising football stars in England, failed to make the country’s 26-man list for Euro 2020.
With less than two seasons left on his contract, Tammy Abraham could leave Chelsea for either Arsenal or Aston Villa who are reportedly considering buying him off this summer.
But the striker has a natural love for Arsenal which could make it easier for him at the Emirates Stadium. The youngster who joined Chelsea academy in 2004 and graduated in 2017, said in an interview he granted in 2017 that he was an Arsenal fan when he was a child.
The 23-year-old striker who scored a goal against Arsenal in December 2019 said Arsenal’s legend, Thierry Henry is a player he looked up to and hoped to surpass his achievements in football.
“To be honest I was an Arsenal fan. It didn’t make any difference at Chelsea”, Tammy Abraham said in 2017 according to UK publication Express.
“When you’re young and you choose who to support, if it’s a family thing, it’s a family thing.
“Luckily for me, it was a family thing, so it wasn’t really a problem at Chelsea…
“Someone I looked up to was Thierry Henry. His variations of finishing, his movement, the way he dribbles… someone like that has a key impact on me. I would love to be as big as him and maybe even better.”
Arsenal are currently not in advanced talks for Tammy Abraham. They are informed on his situation as they like him – but it’s not an ‘advanced deal’ with Chelsea yet. 🏴 #AFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 20, 2021
Chelsea are aware of Arsenal interest but have not received any official bid from #AFC as of today. #CFC
For the fact that Tammy Abraham was a fan of Arsenal and the club’s legend Thierry Henry is his icon, it could be an easy ride for coach Mikel Arteta to help him adapt at the club.
Aside from that, the pain of not being able to fully establish himself under coach Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea could push him to do more if he has the opportunity to play for Chelsea’s local rivals, Arsenal.
However, from all indications, it is looking more like Tammy Abraham could end up at Aston Villa if Chelsea are not able to use him for a swap deal for the services of Borussia Dortmund strike Erling Haaland.
Between July 1, 2017, that he gained promotion to Chelsea’s senior team, until date, Tammy Abraham has managed to score 30 goals and provided 12 assists in 82 games in all competitions. His contract with the club will expire on June 30, 2023.