Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom is enjoying his time in preseason.

Akpom is only 16 but has been given pre-season opportunities against Boreham Wood and Stevenage.

"Pre-season has been great so far," Akpom told Arsenal.com. "It has been a bit of a surprise being so involved so early, although I played a few games with the Under-18s last year and trained with them too.

"I thought I would stay with them during pre-season but I have been involved with the reserves and it is a good experience. You are playing against bigger men who are faster, stronger and fitter. You just have to try and outsmart them.

"I think [reserves manager] Terry [Burton] believes in me. He just tells me to go out there, work hard and stick to the things I am good at. It's just about trying to be penetrative behind the back four, which is all about good movement."