Ben Sheaf has become the latest member of Arsenal’s U23 squad to head out on loan, with the midfielder to spend the season in the Championship with Coventry City.
Sheaf will look to build upon the experience that he previously gained at Doncaster Rovers and Stevenage, while Coventry are obliged to make the deal permanent should he make a particular amount of appearances.
Trae Coyle, Zech Medley, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Matt Smith and Zak Swanson are also out on loan this season and there is a possibility that other players could follow suit before next month’s deadline.
One player who may fall into that category is James Olayinka. The 19 year old has played just four senior games but has already won two trophies having helped Northampton Town to win the League Two play-offs last season before being an unused substitute for Arsenal against Liverpool in the Community Shield.
Olayinka is still awaiting his competitive debut for Arsenal but is highly regarded by many of the coaches at London Colney for his work rate and ability to play short, snappy passes.
Arsenal face something of a dilemma with regards to sending him on loan as if he was to remain at the club for the first half of the season he could prove to be a useful squad option for cup games.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Olayinka but either way it seems likely that he will gain further experience of senior football in some capacity.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
We have allowed Sam Greenwood to go, Ben Sheaf is under an obligation-to-buy situation. I ask because we don’t actually ever see the non-senior games. What exactly is it that separates the likes of Wilshere, AMN, to an extent Bellerin, Cole, and Fabregas, from academy talent that we let go? Why is it that several well-heralded players never go on to make that step-up?
Greenwood was homesick
Sheaf.. There was better option at CB like Saliba and Gabriel(similar age).. At Cm I think Willcock, ESR was considered better talent n attitude
For youngsters.. Attitudes was the thing who made different.. We can see that at saka, Martineli.. If you wanna compare more talent like JET or Jay Simpson..
That’s also reason why Iwobi can make into first team despite never hyped as big talent at academy
I don’t think this season we should experiment with youth. We already did that last season and look what it brought us. The youth players we have in the squad are enough. Olayinka is not a bad player but he plays in midfield which is a position that we need to improve experience and quality. There will be no place for him to play if we manage to get the likes of Partey and Aouar. Going on loan should be the best decision for him..
The only problem last season was Emery and his over trusting at guendo
Saka, Martineli doing good
Willcock, Nelson doing okay
Nketiah back at arteta regime and doing good
Trust the youth.. It may bring back our glory
This season we have Gabriel n Saliba who still consider as youngsters
With so much experience at willan, Luiz, auba, xhaka..
We can do just fine
Maybe, but I think poor management ( Unai ) and a mediocre squad was more responsible for our form last year than our young players who mostly performed well.
Also, as we don’t have Aouar or Partey as yet I wouldn’t let Olayinka leave just yet
What position is he?
Who is his biggest rival to get in the X1,?
Xhaka?