Arsenal: Toral Loan Deal Indicative Of Competitive Squad

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: Jon Toral celebrates scoring Arsenal's 4th goal, his 2nd, during the match between Arsenal and Manchester City in the Barclays Premier U21 League at Meadow Park on April 7, 2014 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: Jon Toral celebrates scoring Arsenal's 4th goal, his 2nd, during the match between Arsenal and Manchester City in the Barclays Premier U21 League at Meadow Park on April 7, 2014 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal’s Jon Toral has joined Granada on yet another season long loan. While it is a shame to see him leave the Emirates, he would not get nearly enough playing time with the Gunners, indicative of their greatly competitive squad.

Part of being a club that prioritizes developing youth means that there are plenty of players who come in, the world is expected of and then for quite often a variety of reasons, they never quite fulfill their great expectations.

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Arsenal have had a plethora of young superstars come through their doors. Some have had great success, others are called Nicklas Bendtner, but all have usually undergone a series of loan spells with other clubs, mainly in the UK.

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Wenger is clearly a fan of utilizing the loan market to help progress his players. However, in the past, often a player has been loaned out who could have a positive impact on the first team squad. Now, though, much has changed, and Arsenal’s latest loanee departure is wholly indicative of the great squad depth that the Gunners now boats.

Jon Toral has been released on a season long loan to Granada to further his development after spending last season at Birmingham City. Usually, with the talent that Toral possesses and now blossoming into his prime at the age of 21, it would be expected that he would make the leap to the first team. However, Wenger has chosen to loan out a player who in years gone by would have been in the conversation for a starting role.

That is not a critique of Toral’s ability. Rather, Wenger has chose to release him on loan simply because at Arsenal, there is not the opportunity to develop his game further. Playing time is absolutely essential to a young player’s growth. They need experience at the highest level, and Arsenal cannot provide that.

With the addition of Granit Xhaka, Toral sits behind five or six players in that crowded midfield area, all of whom are well ahead of the Spaniard. The return from injury of Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla means that the position is only more competitive, at ultimately, it means that someone has to depart.

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That someone is Toral. It does not mean that his future does lie at the Emirates. But rather, it displays the nous of Arsene Wenger to quietly but effectively develop a top quality squad, something that Arsenal have not had in many years.