Arsenal Loanee Jon Toral Needs Higher Ceiling

Few Arsenal loans have ever worked out quite as well as Jon Toral being loaned to Birmingham City. His exploits reached a glorious peak. Now he needs a bigger stage.

Arsenal’s mass of loaned products have had varying degrees of impact. Some were sent home early, some won titles, some won awards. But none had quite the impact that Jon Toral did.

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The former Barcelona product was sent to Birmingham City on a year long loan and has been a mainstay in their starting XI, playing every forward-lying position aside from striker. In the process, he has netted eight goals and added three assists, including a brilliant volley against Ipswich.

His impact has been so keenly felt that head coach Gary Rowett has been very outspoken about his desire to keep Toral on a permanent deal. That sentiment had to be even more sharply felt when Toral was awarded the Player of the Year and the Goal of the Year, as reported by the club’s official website.

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There’s really nothing else Jon Toral can do to prove that he is ready for Arsenal first team football. He is now 21 years old and he needs a bigger stage. He went into a club on loan and won player of the year, what then can he do for Arsenal, who gave him his big shot, much like they did Hector Bellerin?

Using Bellerin as an example, the excitement is massive. Bellerin draws most of his motivation from the faith that Arsene Wenger showed in him and the way Le Prof made him feel welcome. Jon Toral was part of that same scenario, as he was a team mate of Bellerin’s in Barcelona’s academy. Toral has felt that sense of welcome as well.

The only potential problem with Jon Toral’s involvement is that he played primarily at the No. 10 role that is going to indefinitely occupied by Mesut Ozil. Toral still has a bit to do if he hopes to usurp the German maestro, although it’s not like he won’t have his opportunities.

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Wenger has always shown a keenness towards his younger players. Just look at Alex Iwobi. Plus, he had no qualms keeping Petr Cech on the bench when David Ospina was on a roll. Then there is Hector Bellerin, who turned a few key injuries into the opportunity of a lifetime.

Arsenal is always going to be involved in four competitions from the start of the season, giving Toral plenty of opportunity to make an impact at his favored position. And even if that provides a road block, he can just as easily shift to playing the deep role that Aaron Ramsey has played or he has had success out wide as well.

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This summer is going to be exciting for Arsenal because the dead weight of Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini is going to be removed and Tomas Rosicky is moving on as well. That leaves three vacancies that will have to be filled either internally or by transfer. There is no reason to think that Jon Toral cannot fill one of them.