Loanee Watch: Arsenal

This season, Arsenal sent out some players to get more experience and hopefully make an impact for the Gunners next season.

Many players who left Arsenal on loan this season have played in top leagues at top teams across Europe.

Here is a look at three players and how their loan spell went after time away from the Emirates Stadium.

Joe Willock – Newcastle United

I think it’s fair to say that since Willock moved to St James Park in the winter window, he has been vital to Newcastle, and has picked up many points for the Magpies.

Willock has made 13 appearances at Newcastle, and has scored 7 goals for Steve Bruce’s team from midfield.

Almost of his goals have been crucial to Newcastle this season, with his goals securing draws or wins for the team from Tyneside, ensuring they have another year of Premier League football.

Willock has also set a record at Newcastle, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history to score in his six last games.

Newcastle boss, Steve Bruce hasn’t shied anyway from any talk bring Willock back to Newcastle next season on a permanent deal.

However, Mikel Arteta will be looking to see what the Englishman can offer the first team in the Pre Season. If he can’t impressive Arteta, Willock will most likely be on the move in the summer.

This season’s performances from Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have shown Arteta that the faith can be put into younger players, but the summer will tell if Willock can make an impact for Arsenal next season.

Matteo Guendouzi – Hertha Berlin

The Frenchmen joined Hertha in October and has be in the team when fit, being a key component for Die Alte Dame.

Guendouzi has only missed games due to injury and COVID 19, and has recently picked up a Metatarsal Fracture.

During his time in Germany, he has made 24 appearances for Hertha, scoring 2 goals, along with 3 assists to his name.

Overall, Hertha Berlin haven’t had a great season. They currently sit in 14th, just avoiding the drop zone.

The last time Guendouzi played for Arsenal was in a 2-1 defeat against Brighton in the 2019/20 season, and looks like that could have been his final game for the North London club.

It’s understood that Guendouzi will be asked to leave this summer, with the 22-year-old likely to pick up interest from across Europe.

French club Marseille have already displayed their interest in Guendouzi, as they look to bringing him back to the Ligue 1.

Marseille believe they have the finances to bring the midfielder to their club this summer.

When looking at the amount of midfielders at Arsenal already, and if Joe Willock is kept at the club next year, it’s hard to see a place for Guendouzi in Arsenal’s setup after this season.

William Saliba – OGC Nice

The Frenchmen is yet to play a game for Arsenal’s first team yet, spending this year at Nice.

Former boss, Unai Emery agreed a deal with St Etienne in the 2019/20 summer transfer window. He then went back on loan to St Etienne for the remainder of that season.

Since the Spaniard has come in as Arsenal’s manager, he hasn’t used Saliba since he’s been available to him, and has put faith in other players like David Luiz, Gabriel and Rob Holding due to their experience.

At the end of the winter window, Nice decided to take Saliba on loan for the remainder of the season.

When Nice signed the 20-year-old, at the time they sat in 13th in the table, since his arrival they have moved up to 9th in the league.

In 19 appearances for Nice, he has been able to keep 4 clean sheets and he has only been booked twice.

Saliba has been impressive at Nice, and it’s reported he’s impressed Arteta, who will be looking to make Saliba part of his squad next season, when Luiz leaves on a free at the end of the season.

Saliba has been able to show his quality twice now in the French league at two different clubs. Now he must translate that onto the pitch for Arsenal, who need to begin to build their defense if they look to be in the Champions League any time soon.

Other Loans

Arsenal also sent Lucas Torreira, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Sead Kolasinac and Konstantinos Mavropanos on loan this season, who all had mixed loan spells at their clubs.

Looking at the players who left Arsenal on loan this season, their are a few who could come back to the Emirates next season and help out the team, with the ones that don’t have a future at Arsenal adding to the funds of their summer transfer budget.

Arsenal must be wise this summer with their recruitment if they are to get back to where they want to be, and by giving chances to some of the players that had successful loan spells come help the future of the club.

“Emirates Stadium” by jpellgen (@1179_jp) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0