Omar Rekik was loaned out by Arsenal last summer in the hope that he would receive plenty of experience at senior level, but it certainly hasn’t worked out like that so far.
The centre-back has played just 18 minutes in the league for Sparta Rotterdam this season, with three of his appearances being very short cameos at the end of games.
An injury kept him out for several matches between October and November, but even when he has been fit Rekik has often been an unused substitute for his temporary side.
Given that he is now 21 years old, Rekik doesn’t have too much time on his side with regards to a decision on his long-term future at Arsenal.
The youngster is also capable of playing in midfield if required and has been capped by Tunisia at senior level, but this has been a rather wasted season so far in terms of his overall development.
What is rather surprising is the fact that Arsenal haven’t acted quickly to recall Rekik from his loan spell, as they did with Miguel Azeez from Ibiza before sending him to Wigan Athletic for the remainder of the campaign.
In addition, Brooke Norton-Cuffy was recalled shortly after he lost his place in the Rotherham United team and he is now on loan at Coventry City.
The recent signing of Jakub Kiwior, who can also play in defence and midfield, may well have negative repercussions in terms of Rekik’s overall hopes of succeeding at the club.
With regards to the second half of this season, however, it would surely be more beneficial for Rekik to be recalled and then loaned out elsewhere.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
I would have thought Arsenal seek assurances over guaranteed playing time before sanctioning each loan.
Its does raise a question why they handled so quick and swiftly with BNC and Azeez, and not with Rekik 🤷🏽♂️
Marcelo Flores is also struggling to find minutes
I have never understood this argument. It would be a truly awful idea. If you ask for assurances over guaranteed playing time before sanctioning a loan, the main thing you are guaranteeing is that the player learns nothing. They need to go & fight for their place, the same as they will have to do when they come back.
Plus, that’s before you take into account the fact that the club loaning the player would have to be nuts/incredibly desperate to agree to it in the first place !
Not if you loan Camavinga to Arsenal for example. I think, it is about the intent to sign the player on loan to be part of the starting XI that is being discussed. If he underperforms, it is a rule of football that he will be on the bench.
‘guaranteed playing time’ is the comment I responded too. Couldn’t be clearer really.
There may be other factors at play and maybe Arsenal have received assurances that his playing time will increase in the second half of the season…maybe because Rekik has made progress in training and the coach feels that he might displace one of the starting XI in the pecking order, or maybe Sparta are about to sell one of their starting centre halves to another club. I don’t follow Sparta so I have no idea if either of these scenarios are even remotely likely, but just saying that the lack of a recall doesn’t mean that Arsenal have been asleep… Read more »
Someone needs a rekik up the arse. Where’s my coat?
Surely we could loan him to Everton or another championship club
Have to say Sparta is really having a hell of a season so far, where they are usually fighting for survival. They might even make it to Europe 🤣
Wich is kinda unfortunate for the kid though, but to not even be called upon as a sub could maybe be considered worrying 🤷🏽♂️
Centee halfs rarely come on or off in ganes andcoaches don’t mix up partnerships that are working well for them. Sounds like an unlucky injury and then a case of the managernit changing a settled defence.