Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem says he’s ‘living the dream’ at Ibrox after helping Rangers reach the Scottish FA Cup final at the expense of neighbours Celtic.
The 19-year-old came off the bench to successfully convert his spot-kick, and ‘shush’ the Celtic fans, in Sunday’s dramatic semi-final penalty shootout at Hampden Park as the newly-crowned Scottish Championship winners set-up a showdown with Hibernian.
A win for Rangers on 21 May could see Zelalem return to London as a ‘Double’ winner (of sorts), a success that will no doubt stand him in good stead as he looks to turn the head of Arsene Wenger this summer.
Looking to the future, the American told Glasgow’s Evening Times: “Firstly I’m going to go back to pre-season with Arsenal and see how I do there. If it doesn’t work out there then this is another option.
“I haven’t spoken to the gaffer here [Mark Warburton] yet about it but I’m sure that conversation will come up.
“This is what I wanted in football to play in these types of games and big derbies be it Arsenal v Tottenham or Rangers v Celtic. I’m living the dream and I hope to continue to do that.”
With Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini set to depart there’s certainly room for Zelalem to make his mark at the Emirates. Of course, he’s not the only youngster that will be eager to make their mark with
Of course, he’s not the only youngster that will be eager to make their mark with Kystian Bielik, Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Daniel Crowley also looking to replicate the breakthrough year enjoyed by Alex Iwobi.
He’s definitely a talented individual so let’s hope Zelelem fulfils his potential at Arsenal.
If it’s dreams he’s chasing I would stay were his is. Only nightmares to be found in N5.
Love this guy and love having a token american in the team as well, onward and upward for gedion
Interested to see what people on here think about his chances and viability for first team football next season?
From what I gather, he’s a good, tidy, technically proficient player, but if Toral is being considered for the CM position, maybe Zelalem will get another loan spell.
I’m an Arsenal fan and Rangers supporter and I have to say he will be nowhere near the Arsenal 1st team anytime soon. He is tidy on the ball but seems to lack confidence and looks totally unsure what to do with the ball at times and misplaces a lot of bread and butter passes. Real hungry & talented youngsters don’t appear to show these traits too much and I worry for him a little. He’s lightweight but that’s not the main issue, Rangers first and foremost are a footballing side who love to attack and he should have thrived… Read more »
Aren’t we being a little hasty declaring the 19 year-old won’t cut it after one season on loan?
Do not forget how Coquelin got where he is.
I love Toral. He was incredibly unlucky to get badly injured so young. When I first saw him I thought he was even better than Bellerin. He definitely deserves a season with us, as opposed to yet another loan spell, to see if he can cement a first-team place, but I’m not holding my breath. Nor over Joel Campbell who Wenger seems really, really not to care for. As for Zelalem, he’s still very young and, since he says he’s loving it winning trophies at Rangers and their fans want him to stay for another season, that might be the… Read more »
If Rangers win Scottish Cup, I guess they would go into Europa League?
If that’s the case, re-loan him to Rangers so he can hopefully get some European experience.
“If Rangers win Scottish Cup, I guess they would go into Europa League?”
Yeah but they’d have to go through three qualifying rounds just to reach the group stage, hardly a foregone conclusion.
It can’t do any harm for the boy to have won the league with Rangers.
We should have been done the same this season with the squad we have. Wait let me just check, can I say that we won’t be winning the league this season, or will I be accused of being negative whiner?
Hmph…
I always thought it was “wineing”, but the spelling isn’t correct at all. Perhaps I’m just wanting to drink some wine right now. I should go get a bottle opener. And a bottle of wine as well, that would help. Although, if I found one of those bottles with a screw top, I wouldn’t need the bottle opener. Talk about convenient.
I would have thought Jon Toral would have been higher on the pecking list than the other players mentioned here:
Bielik looks a good prospect but for some reason he’s playing in defence.
Crowley looks like he loves himself and to me his opinion of himself seems unfounded – he’s not technically gifted enough to get away with being so featherweight.
The Jeff is clearly talented but plays in a very naive and laid-back fashion that needs to be drilled out of him.
I think they’re playing Bielik at CB at youth level to teach him how to defend properly. Tbh I think it’s the best training he could get for a DM position as we don’t seem to be able to coach a CB position at any level.
I’m curious where you’re getting your information about Jeff and Crowley from, do you watch a lot of U21 football? I haven’t seen enough of that so would love to know how these gems are turning out!
When wenger is gone in a year’s time we’ll do away with this wonderkids coming through nonsense. Arsenal will go from a being a training centre to European force it should be. Zelalem, crowley, jeff, bielk, sanogo, akpom can go God knows where. Toral and wellington deserve a chance to prive their worth
I’ve seen some rubbish comments on this website but this is way up there. This isn’t FIFA mate and I bet when one those players you mentioned has a breakthrough season you’ll act like you’ve always supported them.
Yeah stick Iwobi on the list too. Bloody talented players making a breakthrough.
Your name sums up your contribution to this website, Manuel.
Hope he makes it at the Arsenal, he definitely has the technique and vision necessary, it’s always been more about his lack of strength and application so a good year in the Scottish championship should have done him a world of good. I guess it’s too much to hope that he, Toral and Gnabry will all make it as gunners but two of the three is surely doable?
As someone that has watched Rangers (they are my 2nd side) I have to say I have not been too impressed with him this season (hardly any assists and no goals)
He started off very brightly but has become a bit part player over the past few month, sometimes not even making the bench
I still think he “has something” but needs another loan spell before he gets anywhere near the Arsenal first team
Get out while you can Gedion!
*if we win the cup it’ll be a treble of sorts 😉 let’s not forget the Petrofac Training Cup! Young Gideon hasn’t had the breakthrough I’d hoped for as a Rangers and Arsenal fan. Much the same comments as the other Gers above. He’s not close to the first team. Still, massively impressed he possessed the guts to take a penalty kick on the weekend. I was fearing the worst for the lad. Does need to bulk up and play with a bit more incisiveness. Perhaps a little safe atm so is neither a 10 or an 4. Behind Toral… Read more »
Haven’t heard great things about his loan, but he’s young enough for a second shot. Toral absolutely deserves a shot at the first team. I can see a real competition with him and Ramsey. Currently plays as an AM or box to box CM, but I think he could easily be converted into a DM in the mould of Arteta; a deep-lying playmaker (he already has DM experience from Barca). Plus has the 6’1 stature to handle it. I think arseblog knows about my love for Wellington. His loan has tithered out, but as far as I’m concerned, he should… Read more »
I believe Maitland-Niles has been dropped because his mum left a torrent of abuse on the manager’s voice-mail when she learned her son was expected to turn up to training rather than attend a meeting with some sponsorship people – money, it seems, being the mum’s thing. She’s got previous unfortunately, having physically attacked Dick Law and another member of staff, but Arsenal, though they had to call the police to rescue their employees from her fists, were too classy to press charges! Poor lad, what a liability. Hope she doesn’t fuck up his career before it’s even started, but… Read more »
You can’t take too much heed from the self professed experts on some of these sites plus general punditry. They haven’t got a clue who would develop and who would not. Wenger has many faults but he is exceptionally good at developing players. Coquelin an example par excellence of a player who seemingly should have to some “got out while he could” and spent formative years in the school of hard knocks on continuous loan which did him good like Zelalem is getting now. Very few thought he was ‘Arsenal material”. Yet I mentioned several seasons past that Wenger was… Read more »
he’s play time has been limited at Rangers having watched the games he played in was an ok performances he has the attributes of Arsenal dna about him another year at rangers would probably do him good, Wenger will probably take him to the states if he cant shine in the scottish league then he wont in the prem but with the midfield players going wenger may just punt on him in the first squad, but we need expierence in the midfield more than a maybe, flaminni, Arteta, and Rosisky theres a lot of seasoned experience going there
Wow, we can’t even be a little bit optimistic for the kid.
We really are “no girls one cup” fans at the moment.
I hope he makes it as it will be great for the US game to have an Arsenal player in their midfield.
As a young boy, I dreamed of being a baseball..
I like Toral from what I’ve seen of him in the championship. Goal scoring midfielder with Barcelona DNA…
Doesn’t his contract end this year though..id love to see the youth get s chance maybe they will show more hunger and desire to achieve, but Wenger has done project youth and although it got us into the CL it didn’t yield great results trophy wise
I think it will be a fascinating pre-season for the likes of Zelalem, Toral and Maitland-Niles. With the euros and copa america meaning players being rested, in terms of midfielders we could potentially only have only Coq and Elneny available from our recognised first team squad (Iwobi is listed and seems to regarded as a forward). There is huge potential for game time and to impress the manager in our midfield, whether one of the lads takes their opportunity is another question