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The loan team at Arsenal have rarely, if ever, used the system productively. Eddie Nketiah’s stint at Leeds was particularly ineffective with the young striker spending most of his time on the bench, Lucas Torreira has won La Liga without kicking a ball, while Dejan Iliev has been playing for Shrewsbury in League One, making only three appearances.
At 26 years of age, he won’t be forcing his way into Mikel Arteta’s thoughts any time soon. Those are just three notable examples.
More recently, however, players have been making the most of their time away from Arsenal. A host of youth players have used the opportunity to develop, with some successful spells across the 2020/21 season.
Two central defenders have been excellent in Germany and France respectively and two English midfielders have been earning regular Premier League minutes. Others have done well and heading into a summer of significant overhauling with numerous incomings and outgoings, the platform should be there for internal solutions.
Arsenal: 3 loan players who deserve a chance next season under Mikel Arteta
Three of the current loanees should be brought in and given a chance to impress Mikel Arteta during pre-season:
1. Konstantinos Mavropanos
Konstantinos Mavropanos was one of the first signings made under the purview of Sven Mislintat. Both the defender and the scout left soon thereafter but the impression Mavropanos made has lingered. A young, no-nonsense defender with the height and physicality to play at the top level started his career with somewhat of a mixed bag. Under Arsene Wenger, the Greek made a handful of appearances, impressing against the likes of Manchester United while also getting a red card towards the end of the 2017/18 season.
Mavropanos left soon thereafter on a series of loans to Bundesliga clubs and away from the lights of the Emirates where the defender has made brilliant strides in his development. The most crucial thing for the progression of new players is minutes and Mavropanos has installed himself at the heart of the defense of all the loan clubs he has played for. He has proven to be a stalwart for both Nurnberg and Stuttgart.
At the latter he has reunited with Mislintat, who seems to favor the young player and is moving mountains in his bid to keep him in Germany. The shortcomings of his parent club, however, would be fixed by his move back to Arsenal.
Rob Holding, a dedicated servant and passionate leader, is not at the level Arsenal should be striving for. David Luiz will be leaving the club at the end of the season, with only Holding and the young William Saliba at right centre-back alongside Mavropanos, who is still only 23. He has room to develop and grow into a consistent starter and while he is young, the experience he’s garnered from his loan moves would ease the pressure that Saliba might feel.
Rotating between two young, exciting and clearly talented center backs is not the worst thing in the world.
(Plus he’s pocketed Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba already)
2. Daniel Ballard
The fact that there are two central defenders on this list speaks volumes about the options at the club although Daniel Ballard should certainly not be considered the best of a bad bunch. A youth academy product, Ballard was shipped out to gain valuable minutes at Blackpool.
He’s grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Both Blackpool and Arsenal fans alike have raved about his performances for the League One club where Ballard has contributed to Blackpool’s excellent defensive record. There’s a reason the Tangerines have made it through into the League One play-off final with the fewest conceded goals in the division, and the defender has certainly played his part. He has even chipped in with two goals this season, showing his aerial prowess on both ends of the pitch.
Similar in physical profile to Rob Holding, Ballard would be an excellent option to have around the first team next season. Arsenal may indeed have no European football next season and while Ballard won’t be starting in the Premier League, he could and should get minutes in cup competitions.
Given his age and the current stage of his development, another loan, however, move might be on the cards. Regardless of what might happens in the summer and during pre-season, Ballard’s stock his risen exponentially with his domestic outings as well as his international appearances for Northern Ireland, and is definitely one to watch.
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.