As the current Arsenal season is about to enter the back straight, the focus of the manager, players and fans is all about making these last eight Premier League games count. With no more FA cup games or Champions League ties to interest us, there could soon be very little for Arsenal to play for other than a place in Europe for next season.
And with the recent reports about the club and Arsene Wenger telling us that the Frenchman will be in charge for at least another year, thoughts will start turning to the summer and next season. There will of course be no end of Arsenal transfer rumours linking the Gunners with every player from Lionel Messi to some unheard of teenager from outer Mongolia.
As well as that we have the current players to consider and also the players that are on loan or in the academy that might be included in the squad. It looks like Alex Iwobi has broken in and if he continues to improve and impress then he could be a regular starter and not just a squad player next year.
After that I think the two main candidates are currently out on loan, but will either Chuba Akpom or Gedion Zelalem make the grade, need more time on loan or be released altogether? Because Akpom is 20-years old and playing at the higher level of the English Championship you would think he is closer to the Arsenal team and his loan spell at Hull has been quite successful. Steve Bruce suggested that he just needs to get his head right and I am sure that Wenger will be having words with him in the summer and pre-season.
19-year old Zelalem has also impressed his Scottish loan club Rangers even though he has not been playing so much recently, but her is not even playing in the top division and I have serious concerns about the step up to EPL football. He also looks to me as though he needs to toughen up a bit physically and so maybe another loan spell at a higher level is the best for this young Gunner.
What do you guys think of their chances? And who else could be set to join Iwobi next season?
Zelalem is definately not ready. He needs to be loaned out to to Championship club next season.
I would take John Toral instead of him.
Akpon is a great talent but to me he is also not ready , He should be with Arseanal team though and needs regular practice uder Wenger’s Guidence only.
Toral and Akpon can play in Cup games next season
Sunny
From your comments I would want to believe that you have been watching these players week in week out to be able to make such a call. From what I have seen of Toral, he has to improve work ethic otherwise he is far behind in terms of first team action. Akpom and Maitland-Niles have been far more impressive than Toral in their positions. I cannot make a call on Zalalem because scottish football is not shown where I live.
IF Akpom can pull a Harry Kane, why not.
Zelalem was good enough to secure another loan spell in January so they are happy with him. I am sure he will be an important player for us in the future. Very talented player
It’s up to Wenger to decide if he is ready or not but I would guess that he isn’t and will get another loan spell (hopefully in the PL)
I hope Wenger doesn’t do to Akpom what he did to Afobe. I personally think it was wrong to sell him. We could have loaned him. But I guess he was sold to pay for Walcott’s salary increase lol ?