The January transfer window was a very busy one for Arsenal with both incomings and outgoings happening throughout the month.
Arteta Edu & the board did a fantastic job by acquiring three players that will provide necessary cover in all departments and allowed the club to loan out some players who need to be playing regular football for the remainder of the season.
Here’s a look at the loan players who made their debuts for their new clubs last weekend.
Albert Sambi Lokonga
Albert Sambi Lokonga joined Crystal Palace on loan on deadline day. Mikel Arteta decided that more regular game time was necessary for the Belgian to fulfil his full potential & what a better manager to do it under than Patrick Vieira
Last weekend he made his debut against Manchester United, coming on for Will Hughes in 73rd minute in Palace’s 2-1 loss. He showed brief glimpses of quality with his 90% pass accuracy and Crystal Palace fans are hopeful that Lokonga will make his first start next weekend when they have equally tough task against Brighton at home.
Lokonga FotMob rating vs Manchester United: 6.50
Sambi Lokonga in action against Manchester United.
Marquinhos
Marquinhos is currently on loan at Championship side Norwich for the remainder of the season. The Canaries decided to loan the Brazilian for his pace and explosivness that could be helpful in their goal of getting promoted to The Premier League this season. Unfortunately, Marquinhos will have to wait until next weekend to make his debut with him being an unused sub in the Norwich’s 3-0 loss against their promotion rivals Burnley, with The Canaries now being 16 points off automatic promotion. Hopefully the Arsenal loanee can help push them up the table.
Marquinhos signing for Norwich City on Deadline Day.
Tom Smith
A former academy keeper Tom Smith joined League Two side Colchester United on loan until the end of the season. However, Smith wasn’t part of Colchester squad this weekend where they lost 2-1 at home to Barrow. It is expected that Smith will challenge the current starting keeper O’Hara for the number one spot for the remainder of the season, with Colchester having one of the worst defences in the league conceding 38 goals in 30 games.
Tom Smith after he signed for Colchester.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
Centre forward Nathan Butler-Oyedeji is currently getting his minutes at League One side Accrington Stanley. This weekend he started in his team’s heavy loss against 16th placed Lincoln City, in the game that finished 3-0 to the visitors.
Butler-Oyedeji played 59 minutes, before he got substitued. However in the time spent on the pitch, the Arsenal loanee managed to create a chance whilst getting 67% pass accuracy and recording 2 recoveries. He will most likely play as the main striker in a struggling Accrington Stanley side who’s aim for the rest of the season will be too survive the drop.
Butler-Oyedeji’s FotMob rating vs Lincoln City: 5.90
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji in action against Lincoln City last weekend.
Taylor Foran
Taylor Foran signed for Hartlepool on loan until the end of the season, but the 19-year old defender will have to wait for his debut as he was an unused sub in Hartlepool’s 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers. This win could prove to be massive in their relegation battle with them being one point above the releagtion and there is no doubt that Foran will be a massive asset to the team for the remainder of the season.
Taylor Foran warming up before Hartlepool’s game against Doncaster last week.
Although some of Arsenal’s loanees didn’t make their debuts this weekend, the expectation is that all of them are in line to make their debuts next weekend when the new round of game weeks come.
There is no doubt that the Arsenal’s boys will be a valuable assets to their current managers with them helping the teams in reaching their goals whether that is avoiding relegation or gaining promotion.
