Arsenal: Making Profit but Still Making Loans

With 17 players on loan and possibly a few more out of Ashburton before the end of the January transfer window, Arsenal face the problems of a successful youth setup: not enough room when the youngsters are too old.

In the past, Arsenal have been content with using the reserves and under-18s side as preparation for the Premier League, but with many players not being good enough for the first team and needing top-level experience, Arsene Wenger has found a solution in loans. 

However, it only gives him another year to assess who makes the grade before he has even more recruits to think about. One year down the line and you have 20 players who will be looking to go into the reserves, if not the first team. They all need experience and all need playing time, we have come to the strange predicament of having talented 20 year olds being put down the pecking order by talented 18 year olds with a eye towards the 17 years coming through.

It doesn't help that Wenger often has unquestionable faith over players who he has faith in, but with five central midfielders out on loan to compete for one spot, which has amicably been filled by Jack Wilshere and 2 more on the bench in Abou Diaby and Denilson, Wenger must sell the players who will not meet the standard and some who may be talented but face even more talented players. The eventual solution will not be solved by just one sale, as every season we seen 2 or 3 new face capable of becoming Arsenal legends but face a queue for the shirt at every level. 

The best example is the centre midfield problem. Alex Song and Cesc Fabregas have their places guaranteed, and Wilshere is currently first choice, but Diaby and Denilson are waiting in line. Still at the club are Emmanuel Frimpong, who suffered a bad injury keeping him out, and Craig Eastmond, who is currently content in the reserves but has not impressed. Keeping in mind I expect Cesc to stay during the summer, so already the competition is pretty high, at least a few of them must go. That said, if he does leave, we find ourselves looking at the problem of replacing him from the academy or from the outside. I believe the former and have not taken much notice of any transfer rumours linking us with centre midfielders, accordingly. 

Of the loanees, a few of them are likely to be offloaded, as they are too old and not good enough compared to some of the talent coming through, Nacer Barazite and Mark Randall being surplus.Samuel Galindo will spend some time in Spain and possibly at Feyenoord next season, as he needs a work permit. Aaron Ramsey is looking to join Cardiff on loan but will be pushing for first team on his return and another is loan unlikely, posing a serious threat to Wilshere's run in the first team. Meanwhile, Frimpong is likely to gain form in the reserves until he is ready to go on loan for some experience. 

Henri Lansbury is 20 and has impressed, scoring in the Carling Cup tie against Spurs, but faces the problem of wanting first team experience but being very talented. He possesses great technique, is English but would be lower down the pecking order, as he does not stand out from an already talented roster. Wenger has said he has a future, but it seems unlikely; a decent bid may see him move for first team football, one we're likely to face in the future, looking every bit a Arsenalised Lampard. He has impressed on loan at Norwich and has extended his loan to the end of the season, though he is ready for the Premier League and could find a future at many mid table sides.

Francis Coquelin, 19, has spent the first half of the season on loan to Lorient and has picked up two assists and much praise for his displays. As a defensive midfielder he may find an opportunity in the squad this season, with Song being much more attacking often at sacrifice to his defensive duties. Known for his workhorse displays in midfield, he can prove to be a much better option to the often uninspiring Denilson, though he would be unhappy going back to the reserves and going out on loan again. 

At 17, Benik Afobe has shown his class, with three goals and three assists in 13 appearances with Huddersfield in League 1. With age on his side, he may choose to continue his education at Arsenal or look for Championship experience, with the first team a possibility, though unlikely. He has the advantage of youth on his side but will be looking to emulate Wilshere's success in coming seasons, definitely near the top of the pile but not needing immediate attention.

We also have similar problems in Vito Mannone, impressing for Hull City and unlikely to be happy being third choice after a good run in Hull's first team. He will find a home in the Premier League and will return to haunt us but brings in an interesting dynamic. He would only be 2nd string if Fabianski leaves, which he may do if Sznzesny takes the number 1 Jersey, it would leave us with 2 young goalies, one of which would not be content and looking to leave. Looking lower down the line, Shea is the next goalkeeper we have, being part of the team that conceded 10 against Villa's reserve, we simply cannot gamble, a move for an experienced goalkeeper to play backup is more likely. Up front, Sanchez Watt has been great for Leeds but has brought in more assists than rather poor goal tally, and at 19 he faces more experienced strikers in Nicklas Bendtner and Marouane Chamakh as backup to Robin van Persie, and even more competition out on the wings.

Armond Traore, currently out on loan to Juventus, is 21 and finds himself caught between left back and left wing, not being especially good at left back but could be a good deputy to Samir Nasri, tohugh not a great one. The speedy player is unlikely to break into the squad with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas ahead of him. Too raw for a 21 year old and facing the prospects of Silva and Miyachi eventually returning earlier than expected, he will need to establish himself at a lower team with big offers unlikely.

Much of the reserve side have been promoted from the under-18s and is no longer the kicking ground for the players who don't make the cut at first team. Even with so many players on loan, players like Ignasi Miquel, Chuks Aneke and Kyle Ebecilio can be added to the loan list. 

One promising casualty is Oguzhan Ozyakup, out of contract in the summer, rumoured to be tracked by PSV, thanks to the impossibly eagle eyed Samir Hill for that. Failing to break into the main team, he will look elsewhere to find success. I'm sure many more will follow, but it will all depend on their patience and Wenger's preference for the fantastic, Wilshere has dispelled any stories surrounding him and not bringing enough English talent through, if anything our problem is too much talent, funny how things will change in 5 years.

That does not completely conclude the issue of the centre midfield and loan problems, we only have to look at our team lineups this season to see a even more worrying trend. With Fabregas out for extended periods of the season, who has deputised? 2 players have come to the fold, Thomas Rosicky and Samir Nasri. 

Rosicky brings in experience and great passing skills but has failed to the net since his return, we already have tidy midfielders who can pass but his ability to be filtered out on the wing when needed is something Wenger loves, not a worth replacement and one likely to be used sparingly until one of the young wingers develops well enough to grant first team experience. 2 assists in 22 appearances reveal the extent of his blandness and some of the younger players will be looking to oust him.

Then comes the ever influential Samir Nasri, played on the left, he's often found runnign around in the middle since the team is always lax with positioning, such is Arsenal's strength to find triangles and build themselves around the teams they play. He has excelled in midfield and could be a worthy successor but with so many behind him and only realistic if Fabregas leaves, but stronger with him than without. We've not got many left wing options and Hazard will look to shake that up, so will Wenger move our best left winger?

It would incorporate a new look team with and without Fabregas, if Hazard takes right and Nasri left, the centre midfield can continue. But if Fabregas leaves, Nasri can stay on the wing with Ramsey and Coquelin filling in the gap until one of the finds their feet. If Nasri is indeed moved into the Fabregas role, he has the option of filtering Wilshere out on the wing if needed to facilitate Ramsey or Coquelin. I'd imagine Arshavin will be offloaded and we could have Hazard, Wilshere, Walcott and Emmanuel Thomas switching roles on the wing.

Wenger will need to think hard about who makes the grade and who doesn't, we don't want to lose players after spending so much time on them. They all look to be great players but we have to sacrifice a lot of them to ensure the best make it. You have to remember, Wenger isn't building a team for a few seasons, our central midfield can play for us for another 10 years and we'd be happy. 10 years is a long time, how many more midfielders will come through, do any of them have the ability to oust Wilshere, Song or Fabregas? Fabregas's loyalty has come into question as he's often found dreaming of Barcelona, Reina should be shot for putting a Barca top on him but his own goal against us was retribution enough. However, I don't see Wilshere ever leaving us, he hasn't got Barca in his blood only Arsenal and trophies will keep him happy and if not a £30 million price tag will. Song has been a godsend in recent season and added goals to his powerful displays, he could be tempted with a big money move but I doubt it, Wenger had faith in him and it's allowed him to be one of the best midfielders in the league. Then again, when was the last time you saw a transfer rumour about Song? I certainly can't remember maybe a few seasons ago after a successful loan at Charlton?