Arsenal have been flying in the Premier League under Mikel Arteta this season, but a number of their players out on loan have also been catching the eye.
The likes of Charlie Patino and Folarin Balogun are thriving after being handed first-team football elsewhere and they will have aspirations of making the grade at Emirates Stadium.
Others, however, have struggled and here Standard Sport runs the rule over 10 players out on loan from Arsenal right now…
Name: Charlie Patino
Age: 19
Positon: Midfield
Loan club: Blackpool
Patino has been in brilliant form for Blackpool and he has bounced back well after suffering an injury in the early stages of his loan. The midfielder scored in the derby against Preston at the weekend as Blackpool won 4-2 and he has already became a fan favourite. The Blackpool staff and players have been blown away by Patino’s talent, particularly the maturity he plays with for someone so young.
“He’s sensational,” Blackpool forward Jerry Yates said. “He deserves all the credit. He’s only young, but the way he has took to the Championship is unbelievable. He’ll be a top, top player.”
Verdict: Surely destined for the Arsenal first team, possibly next season or after a Premier League loan.
Name: Folarin Balogun
Age: 21
Position: Forward
Loan club: Stade de Reims
There was a fight to take Balogun on loan in the summer and some were surprises when Ligue 1 club Stade de Reims won the race. The striker, however, has shone in France and he has scored 7 goals in the top-flight this season - which is more than a certain Lionel Messi.
Those at Arsenal have high hopes for Balogun and he appears to be benefiting from getting first-team football under his belt. The 21-year-old has caught the eye in France with his pace and finishing so far.
Verdict: Seems like someone who could push for a place in the Arsenal squad. A Premier League loan next season would be a good test of his level. Either way, his value has gone up this season.
Name: Auston Trusty
Age: 24
Position: Defender
Loan club: Birmingham
Very little was known of Trusty when he joined Arsenal in the January of this year from MLS side Colorado Rapids. The move was part of Arsenal strengthening their bonds with Colorado, who are also owned by KSE, and more players may make the move to England in the future. Trusty has impressed at Birmingham, though, featuring regularly and holding his own in the Championship.
Verdict: Has looked better than expected but would struggle to dislodge Arsenal’s centre-backs. Another who could benefit from a Premier League loan.
Name: Nicolas Pepe
Age: 27
Position: Forward
Loan club: Nice
Pepe cost Arsenal £72million when they signed him in the summer of 2019, but he was sent out on loan back in August. The winger has started to find some form in France, scoring three goals so far as he looks to rebuild his career. Arsenal need him to impress as next summer he will have just one year left on his current contract.
If Pepe has a good season in France, the Gunners could hope to at least recoup some of that outlay.
Verdict: Will surely be sold next summer as will have one year left on his contract.
Name: Nuno Tavares
Age: 22
Position: Defender
Loan club: Marseille
Arsenal have developed a habit of sending players to Marseille and Nuno is the latest player to start well there. The left-back has already scored three goals for Marseille and he is thriving playing in an attacking role. Nuno was in and out of the team at Arsenal last season and he appears to be relishing playing week in, week out.
If he continues playing this well, the Gunners will have a decision to make next summer as to what they do with him.
Verdict: Feels like someone who will have to be sold - for a good fee - or reintegrated into the squad.
Name: Pablo Mari
Age: 29
Position: Defender
Loan club: Monza
The defender slipped down the pecking order at Arsenal last season and it was no surprise to see him leave on loan this summer. He has done well in Italy, though, and he will stay at Monza if he can help keep them in Serie A this season. Mari’s departure will pave the way for the Gunners to bring in a new left-sided centre-back.
Verdict: Will either join Monza or find another club next summer.
Name: Brooke Norton-Cuffy
Age: 18
Positon: Defender
Loan club: Rotherham
The right-back signed a new contract with Arsenal before going out on loan in the summer as the club have high hopes for him. Norton-Cuffy helped England Under-19s win the European Championships in the summer and he has done well in the Championship with Rotherham. The defender is an athletic full-back, who is comfortable on the ball, and he would seemingly suit Arteta’s style of football.
Verdict: Still so young. Another loan would make sense, but long term he looks like he could break into the first-team squad.
Name: Runar Alex Runarsson
Age: 27
Position: Goalkeeper
Loan club: Alanyaspor
Joined Arsenal in 2020 for a fee in the region of £1m but he failed to make the grade as a No2 at the club. Sent out on loan this summer and he will hope to do well in Turkey, where several clubs were interested in him.
Verdict: Will most likely be sold or loaned out again next summer.
Name: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Age: 25
Position: Midfielder
Loan club: Southampton
The midfielder is still only 25 and he has plenty of time to turn around a career that has stalled recently. Maitland-Niles has made a slow start to life at Southampton but he will be hoping to break into the team regularly as the fixture schedule ramps up.
Feels like his best time for Arsenal was back in 2020, when he played as a wing-back in a 3-4-2-1 formation, and he is yet to rediscover that form.
Verdict: Will have one year on his contract next summer so will surely be sold.
Name: Marcelo Flores
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
Loan club: Real Oviedo
The 19-year-old is already a big star in Mexico and he is hoping that he can make it into their squad for the World Cup in Qatar. Flores is still yet to make his Arsenal debut, though, and he was loaned to Oviedo this summer to get more minutes. The midfielder has made a solid start there in the Spanish second division, making seven appearances so far.
Verdict: Jury still out on such a young talent. Most likely get another next summer.
