Who will come back from loan and play for us? The loan list. « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News, supporting the club, the players and the manager

By Tony Attwood

The transfer window for loan players closed on Thursday 22nd March, and as far as I can see, this is who we have out on loan.

Ryo, having become a star in the Netherlands and his native Japan now seems to be the star of Bolton and must surely be in line for a first team place next season, although quite how we fit him into the lineup I haven’t worked out.

Nico Yennaris is a midfielder or defender who has already started to break through into the League Cup team, and is now at Notts County.

Nic Bendtner is at Sunderland, but the word seems to be they don’t want him after this season, and the talk is of him going to Russia.  I can’t imagine him coming back to Arsenal unless there is no one wanting to sign him.

Benik Afobe has been hovering on the edge for a couple of years, and the fact that he is with Reading who are on the edge of promotion to the EPL suggests he might be very close to making the first team.

Vito Mannone is with Hull.  The question of our keepers for next season is one that hasn’t really been debated that much.  What will we do with the 3 keepers we have who don’t get games?  Will Fabianski and Almunia go, leaving Mannone to step up to second place, with the youngsters coming up to 3rd and 4th place?

Henri Lansbury has done well at WHU so I am told, and for England.  It would seem a shame to let him go, as he is almost there.  But almost is never enough at Arsenal.

Sean McDermott is a central defender who has only recently moved from the under 18s into the reserves.  He’s on a short term loan at Leeds.  Too early for him next season, I feel.

Chuks Aneke seems to have been with us forever – but that is because he joined at the age of seven.  The fact that he is at Preston, and has been at Stevenage shows he is making his way up, but it is too early for him at Arsenal

Rhys Murphy has played for the Ireland under 21 side as a striker – but again the fact that he is at Preston shows that he is not ready for the top league yet.

Craig Eastmond – another name we seem to have been mentioning for ages – he is on loan to Wycombe.  I fear he might not quite make it with us.  But then, what do I know.

Sanchez Watt is with Crawley, so again the leap up is going to be far to far at the moment.  But I suspect that we will see him eventually.  He is managing to score in League Two, so is heading in the right direction.  Also I like his hair style.

Kyle Bartley was or is with Rangers.  I have no idea what is happening with Rangers or their loan players, so if anyone can tell me please do.  If he does not come back into our team as a central defender, then the gap between the Premier League and Scotland is there for all to see.

Andrey Arshavin is apparently turning it on for Zenit.  I can’t see him coming back though – not with Ryo breaking through.

Joel Campbell at Lorient is a different kettle of fish.  I would love to see him in the squad next season, but Mr Wenger might feel he needs one more year out on loan, or he might be stopped by the passport arrangements.

Carlos Vela seems to have had his chance and lost it.  But he has played 20 times for Sociedad and scored five goals – not bad for a winger in a team resting in 14th in La Liga.

Pedro Botelho – another player who seems to have been on loan for ever.  Has he finally got his passport sorted, or is it just that he never quite reached the heights?  He has only started 3 games this season with Levante, which suggests the latter.

Wellington came with such a reputation that I thought he might be another player to be within the first team immediately.  But he has hardly played, and he is with a club in the Spanish second division.  Not ready for us yet.

Samuel Galindo is also not getting games in the Spanish second division.

Denilson is back in Brazil, and also only playing occasionally.

I have probably missed someone – but that’s the list as I know it.

Any thoughts?