Dan Crowley says he’s eager to gain more experience on loan next season after Arsene Wenger told him he’s not physically ready to cope with life in the Premier League.
The highly-rated 18-year-old midfielder spent three months at Barnsley last season before playing out the remainder of the campaign with Arsenal’s under-21s.
There’s a decent chance the England youth international will be given a chance to impress during pre-season with first team players away at the European Championships and Copa America before he’ll make a decision on his next move.
“I feel I need to go out on loan to get more experience first,” Crowley told the Coventry Telegraph.
“I have spoken to the boss and he says I’m not physically ready for the Premier League just yet, and that’s fair enough and I completely agree because it’s a tough league on your body and there’s so much running that people don’t realise. So I will work on that and hopefully be ready when my time comes.
“I don’t want to be pushed in and not be ready. When I get my chance I want to make sure I’m ready and take it.”
Asked if he’d be interested in a move to Coventry, his local childhood club, the teenager continued: “It would and I’m open minded to it, if that answers your question.
“If the right club comes along, whether that’s in the Championship, League One or abroad, it just has to be the right team that plays the right football that suits me.
“So if a team in League One that plays the right way to suit me comes along then I’d be open-minded to it.”
Agreed. With Xhaka coming in as well, it would be difficult for him to even get on the bench.
Seems a very level headed lad and would be nice for him to step up to a Championship club for the next season. Or if he is sent to League One, only one club he should go to.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC!
Or Newcastle under rafa.
People don’t realize Rafa does not develop players. Everywhere he’s been, he was always complaining owner must put money to buy ready-made players. He was even fired from Inter Milan for just that. A big-name coach in championship does not mean best option for our young players.
A Championship side is the best possible option where he’ll play at a better level as compared to league one. Also it will toughen him up physically.
What a mature response to Wenger’s advice. Many footballers of his age would have thrown their toys out of the pram. Wish him all the best.
He is indeed very slight, shorter than Cazorla even. But he should look at players like Modric because everyone said he was too slight of frame for the Premier league, and he said “ok then I guess I’ll leave” but only after humiliating most other midfielders and making all the managers who turned down signing him for that reason eat humble pie.
Thought more or less the same watching Modric the other evening in the CL final. Amazing technique and there are a lot of similarities to Jack. Strong dribbling and running and a great eye for the pass. Best of all, one can admire without the nausea now that he isn’t one of the riff-raff from up the road… I have watched all the youth games and highlights I could and my impression is Crowley lacks the bite that Jack and Modric possess. Maybe (hopefully) that will come with experience.
This lad is going to be a superstar. I hope he lives the dream and plays for his home town club before he becomes massive in the game. There is no doubt from watching him in the under 21s, that he’s got the lot. Just another season of development and his dreams will be realised. Refreshing and well balanced response to his managers comments. Good luck Dan!
Would like to see him on loan to technical leagues like that of holland to improve him as a player…but he can work the physical aspect of it in the gym
Im sorry but this doesn’t add up for me. We’ve always been told that the lower leagues are much more physical than the BPL and from what I’ve seen I tend to agree. So Mr Wenger how can you expect him to develop under those conditions. Jack Wilshere was starting premier league games for Bolton at 18. This kids got some serious ability, if we can’t get him a decent loan than we should play him in the capital one cup.
This kid couldn’t cut it at Barnsley. The talent is there alright, but he’s a long way away.
Not everybody is Jack Wilshere.
Didn’t make it at Barnsley…apart from their manager saying he was the best 18-year old he’d ever seen.
I guess there are different types of physicality and the one you’ve usually hear about is strength related to tackles and physical contact, whereas he seemingly talks more about speed and stamina-type physicality.
he wasnt good at barnsley. what makes anyone think he will be good enough for coventry. he needs to stay at arsenal for another year and stop being hype and start being real. When he finally gets really good, then go out on loan.
That’s all very well, but I’m not clear on one thing. Is he open minded to it?
As mentioned, you cannot fault Wenger for being better at bringing in youth prospects in recent seasons. Coquelin, Iwobi, Bellerin and Campbell (to some extent) have settled in far better than previous young players mainly due to the fact that Wenger has now ensured experience in all positions following his painful revamp of the squad since the Denilson era. I think we have a couple more prospects to make the step up in coming seasons which makes this squad exciting. Zelalem has been sent (deliberately) to the school of hard knocks in the Scottish second tier and has had a… Read more »
That’s not strictly true though, is it? Loads of commenters on here wanted Coquelin in the squad, only for the manager to send him out on loan to Deriving and then Charlton (and he was only recalled because he was desperate).
Also, quite a few said Bellerin should have been playing instead of Chambers and it took him getting destroyed by Jefferson Montero for it to happen.
I’ll give you Campbell, but realistically he’s not a first team option (and it wouldn’t surprise me if he left this summer).
lol santori, I remember you assuring us all that Coquelin (a few games into his return in Jan 2015) would only be a short term option, pending the triumphant return of Flamini
And I don’t remember anybody suggesting that Bellerin wouldn’t make the cut.
Your revisionism is astonishing.
( I also have no idea what makes you think Gnabry is coming back into his pre-injury form)
Yep I seem to remember that as well. He said Coq was “at best as good as flamini”.
How often did you watch Zelalem at Rangers??