There have been various points over the past couple of seasons when it appeared that Jordi Osei-Tutu was close to making a breakthrough into the Arsenal first-team.
Now, however, the defender finds himself in a difficult predicament owing to a lack of game time at his loan club, VfL Bochum.
Osei-Tutu started the season well enough and, despite usually being a right-back, was used in a more advanced position on the right flank on some occasions, even scoring a goal against Wehen Wiesbaden.
He has, though, been an unused substitute in each of Bochum’s last four league games, leading to concerns that this loan spell might not prove as beneficial for his development as had been hoped.
There is still time for the situation to improve, but Osei-Tutu could be forgiven for being rather concerned.
Having recently turned 21 and with no prior senior experience to his name, this is a crucial season for Osei-Tutu’s development and, perhaps, his last chance to prove that he should be part of the first-team squad at Arsenal.
Osei-Tutu has consistently impressed for Arsenal at youth level – he is diligent defensively and poses a threat going forward.
Despite those qualities, he has barely had a look in for Unai Emery’s side and the current situation regarding his loan spell in the second tier of German football will do little to change that.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
What we never know on these loan arrangements is whether a minimum/maximum number of games is included in the deal or whether the number of games impacts upon the proportion of wages paid by each club.
If on the other hand it’s just down to performance issues then he may need to just focus on improving.
We saw Nelson get a lot of early games in on his loan last year and then become more of a bit player. Perhaps it’s just an age/development thing.
It seems really unlikely we would agree to a structure (percentage of wages paid by each club) that would incentivize a club not to play a young player we loan them. Our loan system appears to be a million times better run than the days of us sending Gnabry to Tony Pullis and then not talking to him for months
Take him back in the summer if situation has not improved. Can’t let a youngster sit on a bench when he should be playing games and earning experience.
Why is it always seen as a negative? Sometimes it may be, like with Gnabry at West Brom, but sometimes maybe the players just need to learn to fight for their place in the starting XI. That’s the nature of competition in life.
I agree
Why would any loan club want to be forced to play a player who isn’t good enough. He should have to earn his minutes and not feel entitled to it.
Exactly. Plus, it’s only 2 months into the new season! There’s plenty of time!