Mikel Arteta believes Willock will get a good ‘reception’ on Arsenal return

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is certain that Joe Willock will be well received when he returns to the Emirates with Newcastle this weekend.

The youngster had impressed in his limited first-team opportunities, before leaving on loan to move to St James’s Park in January 2021, and we begrudgingly agreed to allow him to make that move permanent in the summer.

Willock wasn’t a player that was expected to leave, but we agreed that he would have more first-team opportunities if he was to take up the transfer, and we allowed him to leave for a reported £25 Million as reported by Football.London.

The manager insists that it will be nice to see him, further reiterating that he didn’t want to see him leave.

“I think it will be really nice to have him [back], we all love and like Joe,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference (via Arsenal.com).

“Obviously it was a difficult decision to make to let him go, but I think he’s shown that’s what he needs as well to play the minutes that he’s finding there and find a new challenge.

“Yes {I’ve spoken to him] – not this week, but I have done it before and he knows the reception he’s going to get.”

It was a difficult decision to allow the youngster to leave especially after he thoroughly impressed out on loan, but the reality is that he was behind in the pecking order, and Newcastle were able to offer more regular playing time.

There will be no ill-feeling from our fanbase at all, but I don’t think any Gunners will be hoping he has a good game….

Should Willock have had more minutes at Arsenal?

Patrick

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