Are Arsenal's loan stars impressing at their new clubs?

Are Arsenal's loan stars impressing at their new clubs?

By Adam Le Roux

The month of January saw plenty of comings and goings at the Emirates, with Mikel Arteta shuffling his deck to further lay down his blueprint for the Gunners team of the future. 

As well as the arrivals of Martin Odegaard and Mat Ryan to bolster the ranks, we saw a number of players leave the club temporarily during the first month of the year. 

Whether that be to gain further first-team experience or because they are simply unwanted by the club at this moment in time, there were a number of players that were taken off the payroll until the end of the season, as the Arsenal squad was given a freshen up ahead of the final stretch of the season. 

So what have they been up to during their time away from the club? Let’s take a closer look at four of the players performing elsewhere for the time being. 

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Maitland-Niles was wanted by a whole host of clubs when he was made available for loan in January, with Leicester, Southampton and Newcastle all rumoured to be interested in his signature. 

Eventually the 23-year-old plumped for relegation threatened West Brom, but he seems to have flourished in his time at the Hawthorns, as he adapts to life in a central midfield role. 

So often used as a full-back by the Gunners since he made the step up from the academy, Sam Allardyce seems to be getting the best out of the England International, who has spoken out previously about preferring a role in the middle of the park. 

Having made five appearances for the Baggies to date, Maitland-Niles seems more than comfortable in his new role, and has bags of energy to utilise while patrolling the centre circle and beyond. 

Although the attacking part of his game still needs to be worked on, his temporary boss is more than pleased with his contribution since his January move, and expects even more from him in the upcoming months. 

“Ainsley’s game is starting to get better and better,” Allardyce said. “Because he’s had many years of nearly always playing in that position and not playing where he wanted to play, other clubs have only ever seen him as a full-back. 

“He wants to play in midfield for us, he’s got the energy to do that and he has excellent ability with both feet. 

“Like any attacking midfielder who plays box-to-box, he needs to be making assists and scoring goals - that is what he needs to keep working on. 

“But by him not playing often enough in midfield, that is something that will hopefully come to him quickly.” 

It may only be early days but it definitely looks like the switch away from the Emirates is benefiting Maitland-Niles, and he will most certainly add an extra dimension to the Gunners game when he returns to the side in the summer. 

Joe Willock

There was no better way for Joe Willock to start life after his move to Newcastle than to get on the scoresheet on his very first game for the club, just as he did in a crucial 3-2 victory over Southampton. 

The 21-year-old had found game time to be limited this season due to the fierce competition for places in the centre of the park, and he was never going to oust Granit Xhaka or Thomas Partey from the starting line-up if both were fit.

After a smattering of Europa League appearances and having come off the bench in domestic action, the academy graduate sought out pastures new, and found the perfect fit for him at St James’ Park. 

The Magpies have had an up and down season to date, and are in danger of slipping into a relegation battle, and at such a tender age, this could be the sort of scenario that makes of breaks the England under-21 international. 

Since that victory over Southampton Steve Bruce’s side haven’t managed to find another win, with defeats against Chelsea and Manchester United followed by a draw with Wolves, but the experience of regular first team football will benefit Willock no end. 

It remains to be seen whether he has the quality to force his way into the Gunners side upon his return to the club, but if anything it will be beneficial for his own career, with a promising future ahead of him. 

William Saliba

Considering he is yet to play a game for the Arsenal first team, there is still plenty of talk about William Saliba and all the happenings from his time at Nice in Ligue 1. 

The 19-year-old was highly thought of after making a £25m move from St Etienne in the summer of 2019, but has thus far not been given any game time, much to the ire of many Gooners. 

The Frenchman was named Nice's Player of the Month for January and has also received widespread praise for his performances for his new side since his move across the Channel, making many think that letting him leave for the remainder of the season was a mistake. 

With David Luiz at his calamitous best in the past few weeks it is hard to argue with that point of view, with the untested youngster surely no more harm to the defensive line than when the Brazilian implodes and leaves his teammates picking up the pieces. 

But, thinking longer term, Saliba is still an Arsenal player and will hopefully be for the foreseeable future, so the experience of the French league will stand him in good stead for when he returns to the club, and he will be pushing Gabriel and Pablo Mari for a place in the starting XI. 

Sead Kolasinac

The Bosnian was the first player we said goodbye to this year, as he made a swift exit back to former club Schalke the second that we turned our calendars over for the new year. 

The Gelsenkirchen-based club were in dire straits before the 27-year-old made the return to the Veltins Arena, and in truth not much has changed, as they sit bottom of the Bundesliga with just nine points to their name after 23 matches played. 

Things started off well for Kolasinac, as he played his part in a 4-0 victory over Hoffenheim in his first appearance of his second stint with the club, but from there it has been nothing but a downward spiral. 

Two points from their next seven league games sees the club already teetering on the edge of relegation from the top tier, with the Arsenal loanee looking helpless in turning around their fortunes. 

As inspiring as the left back can be as a leader - which was shown by him immediately taking the captain’s armband after his arrival - Schalke look like a side destined for the drop.

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