Southend United are bottom of League Two and face a major challenge in attempting to avoid relegation, but James Olayinka has still managed to enhance his reputation this season.
The Arsenal loanee has featured prominently for Southend and yesterday found the net in the 1-0 victory against Scunthorpe United.
Olayinka is relishing playing regularly after his spell with Northampton Town last season was heavily affected by injury and he is starting to show greater maturity in his play.
The 20-year-old relishes bursting forward from midfield and, if truth be told, is perhaps slightly too good to be playing at League Two level.
Still, Olayinka is gaining valuable experience of senior football and is experiencing fighting for points as opposed to playing youth football, where results aren’t of the greatest importance.
Olayinka has featured for Arsenal at first-team level in friendlies and has been on the bench for competitive fixtures but has still yet to make his official debut.
This season he has made impressive strides forward in his development and is doing his utmost to try and help Southend stay in the division.
Olayinka’s loan expires next month and Southend will be eager to keep him, although there is a possibility that Arsenal could send him to a League One side if the opportunity arises.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
not a bad thing to be learning about adversity. I hope the shrimps stay up
Thanks for Jeorge I always enjoy your upbeat and optimistic posts. Yeah I saw James’ goal, a lovely low drive into the corner of the net, he’s a good lad and as you say probably needs to be playing at a higher level.
John Jules looked good playing for Doncaster as well, I wonder where we’ll be with some of these lads next summer, so much talent and so much more coming through the U18’s.
I cannot remember a time when our academy has been as productive as it currently is.
Thanks for ‘that’
We have some very good young players coming through the Academy, which is a reason we should only be buying in exceptional talent. No more Willians and other mediocre wastes of money.