It has been a very busy week for Arsenal with regards to loaning out youngsters.
Zech Medley and Trae Coyle both headed to Gillingham, while Zak Swanson has linked up with Dutch second division side MVV Maastricht and Matt Smith is set to join Swindon Town.
This can be seen as a positive as far as Arsenal U23s are concerned as the club’s squad at that level was too large and now some of the younger players will have more opportunities to impress for the second-string.
There is still more work to be done. The likes of Deyan Iliev, Ben Sheaf and Tolaji Bola are at the stage where they need to be playing senior football and could depart permanently, while a host of other players are candidates for loan spells, including Tyreece John-Jules, Daniel Ballard and James Olayinka. A decision also has to be made on Jordi Osei-Tutu, while Folarin Balogun’s future remains unresolved.
Ideally the U23s squad should consist of around 16 players, with the most talented U18s called up as substitutes when others are unavailable.
The likes of Daniel Oyegoke, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Luke Plange, Alex Kirk and Mazeed Ogungbo should all benefit in this regard, while later in the season first-year scholars like Charlie Patino and Marcelo Flores will also hope to be involved in some capacity.
It will be difficult for any players to break into the first-team at present as there are already a significant amount of youngsters in the squad. Therefore, the decision to send a host of players on loan makes sense.
Another consequence of this is that if there was an injury crisis then the likes of Sam Greenwood, Ben Cottrell and Joel Lopez, who all have much potential, could be involved with the first-team, at least in training.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
It looks like there is a clear plan for these young guys’ futures.
Jeorge, in general, when we loan out youngsters who picks up their wages?
youd hope the players picked the wages up,
Nice one Gus
@Allezkev, I’m always left wondering same. Need some clarifications
We really have a superb academy that is beginning to produce consistently, all these talented youngsters…Per had this vision for our academy, which he so articulately described when he took over. Looks like he is delivering it now, and long may it continue. In Per indeed we trust!
To be fair, the guys who are on the verge of the first team now have all been recruited in the Wenger era so credit for these talented kids has to go to this classy old man first and foremost.
Jorge, I was hoping you would update on Balogun’s situation
Was hoping Balogun and John-Jules would get some opportunities in the first team for cup games or Europa league as substitutes. Both look really talented.
Cottrell should IMO be involved with the 1st team already
And John- Jules
Defo
Typo sorry
Is he still injured though?
I’m very pleased with these developments at Arsenal. U23s are becoming a relic (or at the very least, a risky place to leave your most promising 18-20 year olds), and the club need to ensure they are getting plenty of data about how these lads perform against legitimate, adult competition.
My hope is this will ensure Arsenal’s best youngsters will always be kept here, and we will be able to raise a decent amount of funds for those who are surplus to requirements.
Good news BUT if they do impress elsewhere they must be given a chance “back home” as well. Too many youngsters have turned in good performances on loan and then let go – sometimes at a big cost to the club. We can’t afford to be that cavalier now resources are tighter and as Edu says every penny must count. If they’re good, they deserve a chance to shine at The Arsenal.
Yes! Would absolutely prefer to use our own talent as “filler” for the squad when we need it, instead of relying on not-really-good-enough squad players. I know it’s not that simple, but I’d rather leave us a little exposed in a position because we’re playing a upcoming talent, than leave us exposed because our usual go-to is some “perhaps-not-really-good-enough-for-Arsenal” slightly crippled might-have-been 🙂 Not shooting at anyone in particular, i’d just be more inclined to forgive a sub-par performance from someone we’re cultivating for the future, than someone we’re over-paying that is kinda on the way out if we can… Read more »
We have great prospects with the academy players. Surely more gems can be unearthed like Saka and ESR. The future is indeed bright for the Arsenal.
Not really a positive on its own, if you follow single one – which you haven’t. All Raul talk here. ESR wasn’t good loan, even the club he went to said it was a bad fit for their style of play and position in table (implied not working hard enough). There are team that do proper loans – some even two years, we’ll always get question mark back after a year or half, while other clubs get 7-15M or a player to use.
https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/players/huddersfield-emile-smith-rowe-decision-18578866
I thought Sam Greenwood was sold?