The trend in the Premier League these days seems to be to loan out young players before eventually letting them go.
Few exciting youngsters break through at their clubs, something evident at Chelsea, for instance. They’ve got a plethora of exciting young players, but have 40 loaned out to various clubs, yet they’re mulling over a big money buy for someone else’s young talent.
Phil Foden has broken through at Manchester City, but a lack of opportunity pushed Jadon Sancho across the North Sea to Germany, where he’s currently thriving for Borussia Dortmund, one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Arsenal are bucking that trend, refusing to allow two of their hottest prospects out on loan this January and taking a real stance on the development of their young players.
There are two names that stand out in the Arsenal ranks, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah. Willock is the youngest of three siblings to come through the Arsenal ranks and he’s the only one left at the club.
He’s got 14 first team appearances to his name, but this season he’s bagged a remarkable six goals in five appearances. Three of those goals have come for the Arsenal under-21 side, but in senior action in the Checkatrade Trophy.
He then scored in the Europa League as Arsenal beat Vorskla Poltava 3-0, before finally showing what he can do on home soil in a senior appearance against Blackpool in the FA Cup. Two goals later, Gunners’ fans are very aware of Willock’s growing potential.
His teammate Eddie Nketiah was involved in all the games in which Willock scored. He’s 19-years old and started out at Chelsea, before swapping west London for north London. It was a wise move – he’s now been capped up to England under-21 level and has 15 senior appearances to his name for Arsenal, including five this season.
The fact that two of the most promising young players at the club have amassed almost 30 senior appearances is impressive. It’s notoriously hard for young players to get a game in the Premier League and calls by Pep Guardiola to introduce a B team league have gathered pace. The Gunners are proving that there’s no need for such drastic changes if you manage your squad right. It might be viewed as devaluing the FA Cup by playing the youngsters, but it hasn’t affected their chances of winning it.
They’re amongst the five favourites to lift the trophy in the current FA Cup betting markets, even with their preference of fielding younger players. It’s a tactic they’ve used on many occasions in the last five years, winning it three times.
The English game relies on these young players reaching their potential and whilst some clubs complain about the structure and others take advantage of the loan market, Arsenal are doing things the right way.
Which is why you’re more likely to see Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah in the England team in four years’ time than most of the 40 players loaned out by Chelsea.
