Arsenal: 3 youth players who need January loan moves

Arsenal: 3 players who need January loan moves

Arsenal's English midfielder Charlie Patino gestures wearing a white kit to support the No More Red outreach and anti-knife crime initiative during the English FA Cup third round football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on January 9, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – JULY 13: Omar Rekik of Arsenal during the Pre-Season Friendly between Hibernian and Arsenal at Easter Road on July 13, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

2. Omar Rekik

Omar Rekik was one of the first signings made a couple of years ago during Arsenal’s youth academy overhaul. A tall and powerful center-back, Rekik has a profile similar to William Saliba. Calm on the ball and able to drive forward into midfield, the youngster has impressed at Under-23 level. Still only 20 years old, Rekik made his debut for Tunisia last summer and has since been called up to the international squad for AFCON.

Arteta’s view of the future of the squad is clear to see. He is slowly phasing out aging players on big wages while integrating promising talent. He wants his players to be energetic and physical with technical quality and comfort in possession, which Rekik fits to a tee.

With Pablo Mari having left on loan the options left over are not particularly inspiring: Calum Chambers has made less than a handful of appearances this season and Rob Holding has featured with greater frequency, but the limitations in his game are glaringly obvious.

Benjamin White and Gabriel have formed a formidable partnership but with Arsenal hoping to compete in European football next season, they will need a deep bench. Rekik may not be ready to make that step up just yet but a loan move would certainly help find out exactly where he is in his development.

Already tipped to move out temporarily this window, matters were complicated by his AFCON call-up.

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