A new set of Arsenal youngsters are poised to head out on loan when the transfer window re-opens in January, but, for now, it is worth assessing the fortunes of those who are currently on temporary transfer and attempting to gauge whether they have a long-term future at the club.
Of all the Arsenal loanees this season, Joel Campbell certainly seems to have attracted the most attention as a consequence of his exploits at Olympiacos. The Costa Rica international has scored five goals and made eight assists in 14 league fixtures to date, whilst also featuring three times in the Champions League. If he continues his steady progression then Campbell, who previously spent time with Lorient and Real Betis, could find himself part of the Arsenal first-team next season, particularly if he impresses at the World Cup.
Johan Djourou has featured 11 times for Hamburg in the Bundesliga, turning in some assured performances, but despite the fact that he has played for the Arsenal first-team on 141 occasions, he appears to have no future at the club and could earn a permanent move to the German side next summer.
Francis Coquelin, meanwhile, has often been deployed as a left winger at Freiburg and is expected to miss the next few weeks through injury. A promising player when signed from Stade Lavallois five years ago, his development has stalled somewhat since, and he will have to really impress in the second half of the season to stand any chance of resurrecting his Arsenal career.
Hector Bellerin has caught the eye as a right-wing back at Watford and could extend his stay at Vicarage Road until the end of the season, although it remains to be seen what impact Gianfranco Zola’s departure will have on the youngster’s chances of featuring regularly for the Championship side. A promotion to the first-team squad at Arsenal seems likely in the summer.
Damian Martinez, meanwhile, is establishing himself as a regular at Sheffield Wednesday and will also be hopeful of breaking into the senior set-up at Emirates Stadium in the near future, but Ignasi Miquel will have to feature far more regularly for Leicester City in order to prove his credentials.
Nico Yennaris has not featured yet for Bournemouth and is in a rather uneasy predicament given that his Arsenal contract expires at the end of the season. Chuks Aneke, however, has been largely impressive for Crewe Alexandra, although given that he is still playing in League One at the age of 20, it is questionable whether he, too, will make the grade.
Wellington has started a couple of games for Real Murcia in Spain recently, but, for all his talent, is yet to demonstrate that he can perform consistently, whilst Austin Lipman, Anthony Jeffrey and Josh Vickers have all impressed for non-league sides whilst receiving some much-needed game time.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Can’t see Djourou coming back but would be surprised if Hamburg would want to keep him as their defense is more like a cheese from Switzerland.
As to Coquelin it doesn’t look good. I was hoping he could make the big step but it looks not like he will make it.
I have big hopes for Joel and Hector. Both have the potential and can make their way. They are still young and can learn so much.
Have always been fans of both Djourou and Miquel. Cannot remember either of them looking out of place when playing CB. Maybe on the wing but not at CB. In my opinion, both are victims of Arsenal’s previous lax attitude to defensive structure. Saw Djourou playing for Hamburg and he did not seem as mobile and quick as when he was at Arsenal, so maybe the situation might have passed him by, but I do hope that we can see Miquel getting over the hump and finding his place in the first team.
No no no.
Miquel has looked terrible every time he has put on an Arsenal shirt, sorry but the kid does not have a future as an Arsenal Regular.
Of all the names mentioned I would think only Bellerin has a realistic chance of being a first teamer.
Miquel look terrible because most time he play leftback for us a postion he never play before , he is decent cb but i m not sure he is at the level we need him to be
I hate to be negative about the guy, but Djourou is just not up to the level that Arsenal want to play at. He had a good run a few years ago with Koscielny as his partner, but other than that I can’t remember a time I thought OH GOOD DJOUROU’S BACK THERE. He doesn’t have the awareness, speed in recovery, or physicality to feature as a defender in a top side. I’m thinking the first leg at Milan in the Champions League and the 8-2 at Old Trafford, where he seemed to be using his own definition of the… Read more »
Always exciting, this bit!
One thing I’d like to see would be Coquelin toughen up. I HATE it when he lies there beating his foot in the ground and seeming half dead – just to jump up and run about half a minute later.
Not the Arsenal way, in my book…
But a talent he is!
Le coq’ll find it most difficult to establish himself here more than anyone else, considering the wealth of talent in our midfield at the moment, best of luck to the guy though, he’s got a decent career ahead of himself.
I want to see Coquelin as RB next season. He has a good tackle, technique and is clearly athletic. His positioning isn’t top notch yet, but he has good speed and can recover from those positions.
Only problem is his fitness, he gets injured too easily.
I want to see Sagna as RB next season….
Apart from Bellarin I can’t say that I see a first team regular future for any of the other s here. Campbell may look like a good prospect but unfortunately for he’s playing in an area where we already have a lot of talent and will also look to invest substantially. Very soon. He’ll have to be world class to get into the strike force Arsenal needs to build.
I have a feeling that Lukas might leave this summer. If that’s the case, he could fit in the team perfectly, as he can play in any of the front three positions.
Having seen a bit of Campbell playing against the US over here stateside, I think he’s got the goods to be a much better option off the bench than Sanogo or Bendtner next year. The kid can really play. In saying that, we still would need a top, top striker signed as well.
Sitting here hoping that Wenger is throwing everything plus the proverbial kitchen sink at a Lewandouski deal for next year. Should be an easy deal after we spank Bayern like a naughty schoolboy. Teach them not to take a second bite at the mighty Arsenal.
cheers for the article
To the awful tune of mistletoe and wine:
its chavvy time, hear Maureen whine, throwing tantrums all the time, with terry on the floor, gunners take the pee,a time to rejoice as we stay top of the tree
Wow.
Time to give Wellington the boot?
*taxi*
I had high hopes for Coquelin, he makes me think of Flamini in that physical tackling approach – but just without the aggressive factor. Great runner, tackler, dribbles particularly well, and loves to take a long shot. It’s a shame he doesn’t even play as a DM for Freiburg – I just don’t see it helping his chances. I wanted Miquel to make something of himself too, has a passion for the club and looks like he could become a more mobile Mertesacker in years to come, just had to fix his positioning. I can’t see Bellerin just doing well… Read more »
I *CAN see Bellerin doing well regardless. Yeesh, what a blunder.
If Joel Campbell somehow manages to play a part in knocking ManU out of the CL, I can see his chances grow. That would be lovely.
Coquelin is no good hanging on the left. He needs to be thrusting through the middle. He’ll need to pick up the pace and push harder and harder, then finish off all over her ti…oh. That went too far, sorry.
How good is the Greek league? We are also linked with Mitroglou from Olympiakos, so I am interested to know. I feel that only one of Sanogo or Campbell will have a future. Anyone has any preferences between the two?
i believe hector bellerin and joel campbell are exciting prospects with a view to breaking into the first team set-up. A lot to be desired for in the performances of coquelin and aneke. it would be extremely beneficial for lads like ryo, toral, chuba to gain valuable experience on loan at an assuring but competitive club.
Do some of you guys know what’s the problem with Nico Yennaris? As far as I remember, he was considered one of the hot prospects with good chances to break into the first team a year or two ago. What happened?
He’s not very good, that’s the problem.
Its a very long time since a youngster broke into the first team and made it.
Last ones to truly make it were probably Ramsey and Wilshere in ’08 no?
Aaron was signed from Cardiff, so like Theo and The Ox, can he be considered as a reakthrough? I say no. However we have had SZCZ, Wilshire, and Gibbs make it in the last few years. The rest have been given chances, but have not been able to make it. Some were tipped for huge things like Lansbury for example. If our youngsters are not good enough, is it because of their talent, or the quality of the talent ahead of them. As much as the “Class of ’92” always get mentioned, its always forgotten the era of when Adams,… Read more »
Joel Campbell only one with a chance of making it here.
Bellerin is the most promising prospect at the moment. Along with jenks he is a great pretender for the throne when Bacary leaves. I do think we will need Sagna however for another season or two at least for Bellerin to continue a smooth integration. Campbell could be a prospect too. Considering Giroud is 27+ as is Podolski and the need for strikers, he is an interesting prospect over the next 2 seasons for the striker role. Coquelin will find it tough to come in to the team. there is a window of chance considering Arteta is older and Flamini… Read more »