Arsenal Transfer Prospect: Does Wenger's Loan System Still Work for the Gunners?

As the summer transfer window recently came to a close, Arsenal fans were left severely disappointed as manager Arsene Wenger failed to secure the services of a quality keeper in hopes to evade criticism, cure the Gunners' keeping conundrum, and mount a sufficient title charge to break their five-year trophy drought.

However, Wenger was certainly busy during the window, working victoriously to attempt to lure signings to the Emirates. But the Frenchman also sent a number of his renowned youngsters on loan in hopes that they will gain serious playing time and ultimately develop as players and men.

This is a ploy that has been utilized by the Arsenal manager since his arrival to North London in 1996. The prospect of sending talented starlets around England, and occasionally Europe, enables the players to have a strong feel of professional first team football as well as preparing them for their time at Arsenal.

It has benefited Arsenal and Wenger greatly, but in recent seasons it's seeming as if it is no longer as beneficial as it might have been.

This season, seven young guns have been whisked away with high hopes.

Kyle Bartley has returned for another stint with Sheffield United, this time for the whole of 2010/2011. Dutch maestro Nacer Barazite was recently lent to Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for the remainder of the current campaign, whilst Brazilian hot head Pedro Botelho is with Spanish Segunda side Cartagena, like the latter his spell is also for the whole of the season.

Promising midfielder Francis Coquelin is also on a season long loan with French giants Lorient FC, whilst another Frenchman Armand Traore recently signed a season-long spell with Juventus.

Finally, in the Championship, speedy striker Sanchez Watts is with Leeds United for the whole of the season whilst Luke Freeman is with Yeovil Town in League One until the close of the year. Henri Lansbury is expected to sign with Swansea in the coming days too.

Bartley is a strong, promising defender who looks to be one who will definitely contend for an Arsenal spot in the coming years. However, the likes of Barazite, Botelho, and Traore have already endured loans spells and yet none seem capable of breaking into the Arsenal side, ever.

Last season, the likes of Gavin Hoyte, Kerrea Gilbert, Mark Randall, and Henri Lansbury were all loaned out for the 2009/2010 campaign and despite showing promise Lansbury and Hoyte still look like rarely pushing for Arsenal performances, bar the League Cup.

Kerrea Gilbert had been away from Arsenal on loan since 2006 and only returned last season before being loaned out again in January. The English defender was recently released from the club. Mark Randall has been at the club since 2006 and has only made a handful of appearances. 

In 2008/2009, Paul Rodgers, Abou Ogogo, and Rene Steer, all players who had gradually made their way up through the Arsenal academies, were all given loan spells before ultimately being released the following season.

Albeit, the loan system has been beneficial for players such as Wojciech Szczensy and Jack Wilshere; however, the pair were always destined for Arsenal glory. But it is appearing that most loan spells ensure the youngsters miss out on guidance from Wenger as well as impressing him at trainings. It is almost a trial for other clubs and it raises the question: is Wenger's loaning to many youngsters and does the ploy still work?