Chuba Akpom has lifted the lid on why he had to cut ties with Arsenal, citing the need to play more games and moving onto the next level in his career pushed him towards the exit door.

The 23-year-old was forced to end a fifteen-year-association with the Emirates Stadium outfit in the summer of 2018, signing on for Greek Super League side PAOK after been told by new man in charge Unai Emery that he was surplus to requirements.

"He just said that there's a lot of strikers and it would be hard for him to give me game time, which I respected, " Akpom told bbc.com.

"You have to remember I'm an Arsenal fan, I'd spent most of my life at the club, I watch all their matches on television out here.

"Of course it was hard to leave, but I needed first-team football.

"Joining PAOK has given me a new life experience and we've got a great chance of doing something special this season.

The Nigerian who has scored five goals in seventeen league games is however, relishing a chance of winning the topflight with PAOK this season, the club's first since 1985.

"Everywhere I go, fans are always reminding me it's been 34 years since we last won the league.