This season Last Word on Sports will be keeping you up to date on the Arsenal players out on loan, as they continue to develop their skills and prove they are ready to compete for a place in the Arsenal side. There are currently ten players out on loan from Arsenal, and with the transfer window still open, no doubt more young players will be heading out on loan to gain valuable first-team experience.
The players already away on loan are:
- Wojciech Szczesny (GK), on loan to AS Roma in Serie A
- Carl Jenkinson (RB), on loan to West Ham United in the Premier League
- Yaya Sanogo (ST), on loan to Ajax in the Eredivisie
- Serge Gnabry (MID), on loan to West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League
- Ainsley Maitland-Niles (MID), on loan to Ipswich Town in the Championship
- Isaac Hayden (CB/MID), on loan to Hull City in the Championship
- Chuba Akpom (ST), on loan to Hull City in the Championship
- Daniel Crowley (MID), on loan to Barnsley in League One
- Jon Toral (MID), on loan to Birmingham City in the Championship
- Emiliano Martinez (GK), on loan to Wolves in the Championship
Arsenal on Loan: Toral Scores Again for Birmingham
Carl Jenkinson played the full 90 minutes as West Ham fell 2-1 to Leicester City. Jenkinson even made an appearance in a new position, goalkeeper, after West Ham keeper Adrian was sent off in stoppage time. It was not a great day for the West Ham backline, as Leicester jumped to a 2-0 lead before the break, then held on for the 2-1 victory.
Yaya Sanogo played the final eight minutes of Ajax’s 3-0 victory. It was an interesting week in the press for Sanogo, with Ajax youth academy coach Ronald de Boer saying “when I see Sanogo, I still have my doubts. I have still found no qualities with which you can do something.” This came after de Boer’s brother and Ajax manager Frank de Boer sang Sanogo’s praises and predicted the Arsenal loanee to shine in the Eredivisie.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles played 74 minutes in Ipswich’s 2-1 victory. The winger was dangerous at times, creating three chances and attempting 11 crosses.
Isaac Hayden and Chuba Akpom, playing for Hull, faced off against Arsenal loanee Emiliano Martinez, in goal for Wolves. Hayden played 56 minutes while Akpom and Martinez went the full 90. in the 1-1 draw. Martinez was the busier of the two keepers, making five saves, four of them on shots from Chuba Akpom, who was a constant threat.
Dan Crowley was a halftime substitute and played the final 45 minutes of Barnsley’s 1-0 win against Burton Albion.
Jon Toral continued his great start to the season, scoring for the second consecutive week for Birmingham City. The Blues failed to hold on for the win, drawing 2-2 at Burnely, but Toral was once again quite good, scoring the opener, creating another chance, and was tidy in possession.
With Serie A set to kick off this coming weekend, look for an update on Wojciech Szczesny in next week’s report.
This week we’re also introducing something new, the highlight and the low-light of the week, identifying the best and worst performance by an Arsenal loanee.
Highlight: Toral scores again for Birmingham, with honorable mention to Jenkinson for making an appearance in goal.
Low-light: Sanogo again fails to get a start amidst criticism from youth coaches.
