Arsenal: 3 loan players who deserve a chance next season

3. Joe Willock

The loanee on everyone’s mind is none other than Joe Willock.

The English midfielder is turning heads. For good reason. He has flirted around the first team for a couple of years at Arsenal but hadn’t been able to take the final step and cement a starting spot, which prompted his January departure.

While flashes of talent were seen in Europa League games, there were question marks concerning his ability to perform consistently at the highest level. Those question marks have morphed into Premier League clubs now circling around the midfielder, eager to snap him up.

Willock has smashed in goal after goal for Newcastle, surpassing perhaps even his own expectations. Whether starting or coming off the bench, Willock has scored seven goals for the Magpies in his short stint there, showing what intelligent loan moves can do for a player. This spell on Tyneside has been utterly sensational.

His confidence is through the roof, with his energy on the pitch and his character off it endearing him to Newcastle fans. Willock would certainly fetch a sizeable fee given his age, nationality and potential: £30m, if accrued, is no small amount.

The club should nevertheless bring him back.

Can he score goals in the Premier League? Can he contribute consistently? Does he have the character to motivate himself, to fight for a place in the team? Willock has answered all these questions and more. He deserves a spot in this Arsenal team or at least the chance to prove his worth once more under Arteta.

It seems as if Arsenal is finally learning how to use loans to their advantage. Funds will be tight, as always, and making the most out of promising young talents is the best way to achieve the success the club is striving towards. Whatever happens with Willock’s future, Arsenal end up winners.