How well are the Arsenal loan players doing and what are their future prospects?
Arsenal football club is not just about the first eleven, it so much more, the squad as a whole, the youth team, the women’s team, the back-room staff and so on and it is always helpful to keep abreast as much as possible on what is going on elsewhere within the club.
One of the least written about and therefore not as well known is what is actually happening to our loan players and below I have compiled an update on what each player is currently up to and how they are doing.
Emile Smith-Rowe
Smith-Rowe joined RB Leipzig at the end of the January transfer window until the end of the season, however, the poor lad has not played a single game due to not being fully recovered from a groin injury.
David Ospina
Ospina joined Napoli in August on a one year loan deal with an option to make the loan permanent. To date, Ospina has featured in 21 competitive games for Napoli including 14 in Serie A. The Colombian’s season looked over following a serious head injury on the 17th of this month against Udinese, but he has now been given the all clear and could even face us in the Europa League.
Calum Chambers
The defender is currently on loan with Premier League rivals Fulham until the end of 2018/19 campaign, he plays regularly for the Cottagers and has played in 24 of Fulham’s 31 Premier League games so far this season. He hasbeen highly praised playing in midfield.
Emiliano Martínez
The Argentinian joined Championship side Reading in January and has become their number one keeper featuring in the ten Championship games Reading have played since his arrival.
Takuma Asano
The young forward has never played for us since he signed in July 2016 and is unlikely to do so since being refused a work permit, he was first loaned to Stuttgart before moving to Hannover last May. He has played just six games for the Bundesliga side and is nothing more than a fringe player.
Krystian Bielik
The young Polish defender has been loaned out several times since he signed for us from Legia Warsaw back in January 2015, He has had spells with Birmingham City and Walsall and is currently on loan at Charlton Athletic where he is finally getting significant game time having featured for The Addicks in 27 games this season, scoring twice.
Matt Macey
The 24 year old keeper has been loaned out almost permanently since joining us in 2014, he is currently with Plymouth Argyle and has played on a regular basis featuring in 28 games so far this season, it is unlikely he has a future with Arsenal.
Reiss Nelson
Nelson is an immense talent and has proven to be a success with Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, the 19 year old has played in 18 Bundesliga games and six times in the Champions League, scoring a combined six goals.
Kelechi Nwakali
Nigerian Nwakali has been loaned out ever since he signed for us back in 2016, he is currently on loan with Porto B and has played for them 15 times this season, he is definitely a work in progress.
Of all the players we have on loan right now, Nelson is proving to be the most successful, he is gaining some great experience including in the Champions League and you have to think that he will be handed some opportunities next season with the first team.
Emile Smith-Rowe clearly has a bright future but until he gets more game time we will have to withhold judgement.
Krystian Bielik is also doing very well though his experience is in the lower leagues and the chances are that he will be loaned out again but to a higher profile side next season. The same probably applies to Kelechi Nwakali but the others, Ospina, Chambers, Osano and Macey most likely do not have futures with us for one reason or another.
Who do you think could come back and make their mark at Arsenal?