Alex Kirk has had to be patient to make his Bromley debut but the Arsenal loanee certainly managed to make up for lost time.
Over a month after securing his loan switch to the National League side, Kirk was named in the starting lineup yesterday as Bromley took on Wealdstone in FA Cup qualifying.
Just eight minutes into the game Kirk opened the scoring and he went on to play the full 90 minutes as Bromley won 3-2 and progressed to the first round of the competition.
Kirk then received the man of the match award and he has certainly done his chances of earning further starts no harm at all.
The 20-year-old centre-back enjoyed a productive spell on loan at Ayr United last season, for whom he made 24 appearances and scored twice.
A product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, Kirk was an unused substitute for the Gunners away to West Ham in the Premier League in May 2022.
Kirk has frequently been called upon by Mikel Arteta in first-team training sessions and has also been involved in training camps with the squad.
Making the breakthrough at Arsenal could prove to be a difficult task but Kirk seems well equipped to enjoy an impressive career elsewhere.
A good reader of the game, he is strong in the air and has experience of operating effectively in different formations.
It was somewhat surprising that Kirk linked up with a National League side on loan as he is seemingly capable of playing at a higher level.
At present, though, he will be focused on impressing for Bromley, where he is joined on loan by fellow Arsenal youngster Kido Taylor-Hart.
The winger was an unused substitute yesterday but has made three appearances in the National League during his first senior loan spell.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Play well
Well done! Better to be playing regularly helping the team at a lower level than warming the bench where the manager doesn’t trust you.