Arsenal Transfer News: Gedion Zelalem Discusses Gunners Scouting, Rangers Loan

Gedion Zelalem states Arsenal scouts are keeping close tabs on him as he spends time on loan at Rangers. Teenage playmaker Zelalem has been in impressive form for the Scottish side and is enamoured with the way parent club Arsenal keep tabs on his development.

The 18-year-old spoke in glowing terms about the Gunners' scouting operation, according to SkySports.com's Transfer Centre news feed: "Arsenal always text me when there is a scout coming to watch so they know I am progressing, even in training because they talk to the gaffer so they know how I’m training."

Zelalem hopes the close monitoring leads to reports making their way back to Gunners boss Arsene Wenger: "That would be the first-team coaches speaking to the manager here and they will watch my games too so hopefully Arsene Wenger will get good feedback about me."

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

Zelalem believes this approach reflects how Arsenal cares about its young players.

Of course, he'll be keen to show Wenger he is progressing well. A technical marvel, Zelalem hasn't quite progressed as quickly as he might. Following a stunning pre-season in 2013, the slightly built pass-master has languished in the reserves before his loan spell.

Zelalem's problem is that he's so much like the midfielders ahead of him in the Gunners ranks. He lacks strength but boasts excellent vision and creative instincts.

Yet so do Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey. Yet positive showings in Glasgow would be very timely from Zelalem.

Not only is Rosicky currently injured, but fellow midfielder Jack Wilshere is set to be out for three months as he undergoes surgery to fix a leg injury, according to the club's official site.

Akira Suemori/Associated Press

Zelalem is in the same mould of Wilshere. As a squad option, he would offer more guile and flair than ageing pair Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, the Gunners current midfield depth.

While Zelalem is yet another creator, former Arsenal striker turned Sky Sports Soccer Saturday pundit Charlie Nicholas still wishes Wenger had signed a more destructive type this summer.

Yet Nicholas still believes the current squad can challenge for the Premier League title this season, according to Sky Sports: "I would've liked a holding midfielder but I think these guys can win the league."

Nicholas expressed his confidence in Wenger's present team, a group supplemented by the summer arrival of ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech: "Cech is keeping clean sheets which is fantastic, Theo Walcott is nicking a goal and Olivier Giroud is scoring off the bench so I'm feeling quite happy about the situation right now."

Nicholas won't find many takers for his view after the Gunners have managed just 10 points from their first five league fixtures. Arsenal were also beaten 2-1 in Croatia by Dinamo Zagreb to begin their UEFA Champions League campaign on a sour note, per BBC Sport's Mandeep Sanghera.

There's talent at Arsenal, but so far, it isn't showing up on the pitch. Fans won't want Wenger to have an eye on Zelalem, clearly one for the future, at the expense of addressing current problems.