8 Arsenal Players Who Would Benefit from a Loan Move for 2016/17
The loan market has become an essential way for players to gain first-team experience. The situation at Arsenal is no different, and there's a host of young talent who will be looking to make temporary moves for 2016/17.
Many of those players have already had loan spells elsewhere, but they will require another one as they're not yet ready to compete for a regular place in the Arsenal side.
A short period with another club can prove hugely beneficial to a player's development, such as in the case of Jack Wilshere's impactful spell with Bolton Wanderers.
Go to the next slide to discover the first of eight Arsenal players who could move on loan in this transfer window.
Calum Chambers
1 of 8
Former Southampton man Calum Chambers is currently Arsenal’s fourth-choice centre-back. As he finds himself behind Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista in the pecking order, he generally has to make do with the odd cameo in the domestic cups.
His talent is not in doubt—Chambers has already been capped by England and is a composed, authoritative presence on the ball. However, his game is occasionally marred by mistakes, and it requires game time in order to iron those out.
If he is to gain the requisite experience to develop into the centre-half Arsene Wenger and his staff hope he can become, he may have to move on loan.
Matt Barlow of the MailOnline has suggested that Chambers could be a target for Watford—a move to a mid-table Premier League club of that ilk could be just what’s needed to help Chambers kick on.
Emiliano Martinez
2 of 8
Arsenal’s goalkeeping situation is somewhat confused heading into next season. Although Petr Cech is firmly established as the club’s No. 1, having won the Premier League’s coveted Golden Glove in 2015/16, it’s unclear who will be his deputy come August.
David Ospina is still on the books, but he may grow frustrated with playing second fiddle to Cech. He’s an international-calibre goalkeeper and might consider a summer transfer in order to play regular first-team football.
Then there’s Wojciech Szczesny. The Pole has reached the end of his loan spell with AS Roma and will face a decision about whether to return to Arsenal or push for a permanent move away.
Whatever transpires, it’s unlikely that Emiliano Martinez will end up as Arsene Wenger’s second choice. His loan spell with Wolves did not go particularly well last season—after a bright start, he ended up spending much of the campaign on the bench.
Another loan spell may be the best option for the Argentinian stopper.
Isaac Hayden
3 of 8
Isaac Hayden won promotion to the Premier League with Hull City last season. He clearly gained plenty of valuable experience along the way and spoke fondly of his time with the club.
Per his Twitter account, the young midfielder said:
"What a journey it's been, full of ups and downs, twists and turns! Feel privileged to have been part of this team to to have played in a team of this quality throughout the season.
"
However, the 21-year-old didn’t necessarily do enough to convince Arsene Wenger he is ready to become a full-time member of the Arsenal senior squad.
The signing of defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka further limits Hayden’s chances of a first-team breakthrough, so he may have to bide his time with another loan spell elsewhere.
Chuba Akpom
4 of 8
Like Isaac Hayden, Chuba Akpom spent last season winning promotion to the Premier League with Hull City.
However, it would be wrong to suggest Akpom played an integral part in the Tigers' success. He was an unused substitute in the play-off final and scored just three league goals in 35 appearances.
Despite a prolific record in youth football, the 20-year-old has struggled to be clinical at senior level. Loan spells with Coventry City, Brentford, Nottingham Forest and now Hull have seen him amass just a handful of goals. He doesn’t yet look ready to take up a spot in Arsene Wenger’s squad.
If Steve Bruce can be convinced to take Akpom on loan again, it would allow the young forward to gain some invaluable experience of the top flight.
Yaya Sanogo
5 of 8
Although Yaya Sanogo made headlines during his loan spell with Charlton Athletic when he hit a hat-trick against Reading, those were in fact the only goals he managed in his time with the south London club. That move came after a disastrous spell with Ajax. Sanogo is a player who’s lost his way.
It certainly seems like a long time since the 23-year-old was starting UEFA Champions League ties for Arsenal against Bayern Munich. Injury problems have dogged the powerful forward, but question marks also remain over his technical ability.
There is no obvious place for him in the Arsenal squad, even accounting for Danny Welbeck’s long-term injury. However, Arsene Wenger clearly has significant faith in the young Frenchman, so he may decide on a loan move as final chance for Sanogo to prove himself.
Serge Gnabry
6 of 8
Serge Gnabry was once one of the hottest prospects at Arsenal. However, injuries and poor form have seen him slide out of contention. A loan spell may be what’s needed to get him back in the groove.
Gnabry was sent to West Bromwich Albion last season, but the move was curtailed halfway through the campaign with the German failing to make any kind of impact.
Tempting as it may be to give up on Gnabry’s potential, it’s worth remembering that he’s still only 20—there is plenty of time for him to come good. If he is to do that, it’s vital he makes more of his next temporary switch.
Gedion Zelalem
7 of 8
Last season, American midfielder Gedion Zelalem found himself stationed with Rangers in the second tier of Scottish football.
After a bright start, he quickly faded into the background—despite his obvious technical ability, Zelalem struggled to make a tangible impact on games.
His potential is obvious. United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann believes he has the talent to go right to the top, but there is still work to be done.
Klinsmann told the Wall Street Journal:
"We can tell that this kid has the talent to go very far. But this is just the first question. Now there are 10 more questions. Is he strong enough? Is he explosive enough? is he aware enough of whatever happens around him? What about his vision? What about his lifestyle? There are so many questions. In the next couple of years we see if the specific talent will break through. He has to go through that process.
"
The next phase of that process may be a loan move to a club in English football.
Dan Crowley
8 of 8
Dan Crowley is a gifted playmaker in the Jack Wilshere mould. However, by his own admission he is not yet ready for Premier League football.
The 18-year-old told FourFourTwo (h/t the Coventry Telegraph):
"I feel I need to go out on loan to get more experience first.
I have spoken to the boss and he says I’m not physically ready for the Premier League just yet, and that’s fair enough and I completely agree because it’s a tough league on your body and there’s so much running that people don’t realise. So I will work on that and hopefully be ready when my time comes.
"
However, if he is not physically ready for the Premier League then the demands of the Championship may also prove too much. Crowley might be better served by a move abroad, where his technical style can flourish.
