With the 2018/19 season officially over, we here at Tribalfootballare making sure you know all about how your loan players performed throughout the campaign. For this edition, we run our eye over Arsenal's loanees.
TOP 3 PERFORMERS
1. Reiss Nelson, (Season-Long Loan) TSG Hoffenheim
Age: 19
Position: Winger
It was a breakout season for the young attacker, who in his first ever loan spell reacted positively to a change of environment in Germany. Nelson played mainly as an impact player off the bench, with 24 out of his 29 appearances being as a substitute. Nonetheless, his presence was felt as the teenager registered 7 goals and 1 assist, as well as important involvements in the Bundesliga and Champions League. The youngster operated at a brilliant 86.3% pass accuracy, registered an impressive 20 key passes, averaged 0.9 successful dribbles per game and 0.9 shots per game. Overall it was an impressive season for the youngster, who showed glimpses of greatness and certainly has the potential to improve into a top player.
Rating: 7.5/10
2. Krystian Bielik, (Season-Long Loan) Charlton Athletic
Age: 21
Position: Centre-Back / Defensive Midfield
It was a season of success for Arsenal's Polish centre-back in his third loan spell at the Gunners. Bielik was a crucial cog in Lee Bowyer's Charlton Athletic side that achieved promotion in dramatic fashion in the League One Playoff final. Playing at Centre-Back but more predominantly employed in defensive midfield, Bielik was a mainstay making 34 appearances for the Addicks. In these games he scored 4 goals and recorded 2 assists, as well as being a part of 13 clean sheets in the Charlton side that had the second best defensive record in the League. Overall an encouraging season for the Pole who will look to make an impression at his parent club over the summer.
Rating: 7/10
3. Calum Chambers, (Season-Long Loan) Fulham
Age: 24
Position: Centre-Back / Defensive Midfield
While it might have been a dismal result at club level with Fulham relegated in their first season back in the top division, it was a somewhat more encouraging season for Arsenal fringe man Calum Chambers. Chambers made a total of 34 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring 2 goals in the Premier League from defensive midfield. The defender averaged 2.2 interceptions per game (11th in the Premier League), 2.1 tackles per game, made 107 clearances, won 64 aerial duels and made 43 blocks. However, these stats are marred by Fulham's defensive record, a side that conceded 81 goals making them the most porous defense in the Premier League. It will be interesting to see if Chambers can finally cement himself at the Emirates or whether he will be loaned out again to another Premier League side.
Rating: 5.5/10
FULL LIST OF OTHER ARSENAL LOANEES + RANKINGS
MATURE AGE LOANEES
David Ospina, (Season-Long Loan) SSC Napoli
Age: 30
Position: Goalkeeper
The Colombian No.1 shared the goalkeeping load with fellow loanees Alex Meret and Orestis Karnezis, playing a total of 24 matches for the Italian outfit (including all 6 Champions League matches). In these matches he conceded 25 goals and kept 8 clean sheets. However, it looks like Ospina will be sold to Napoli this summer.
Rating: 5/10
Takuma Asano, (Season-Long Loan) Hannover 96
Age: 24
Position: Second Striker
The Japanese international did not excel in his second successive loan spell in Germany. This time with Hannover, Asano made only 15 appearances (13 in the Bundesliga) and his solitary goal and assist came in a 6-0 drubbing of a third division side in the Cup.
Rating: 3.5/10
Matt Macey, (Season-Long Loan) Plymouth
Age: 24
Position: Goalkeeper
In his first full-season on loan from the Gunners, Matt Macey didn't exactly steal the headlines. Playing in the depths of the third division, Macey was Plymouth's number 1 for the majority of the season. Playing a total of 38 matches between the sticks, he conceded a whopping 70 goals and only kept a measly 5 clean sheets.
Rating: 3/10
Emiliano Martinez, (Six-Month Loan) Reading
Age: 26
Position: Goalkeeper
In his sixth loan spell, the Arsenal reserve goalkeeper did an adequate job in the Championship in the second half of the season. In his 18 matches at the club he played every single minute between the sticks, where he conceded 23 goals and kept 5 clean sheets. Nothing outstanding but once again he proved his reliability.
Rating: 5/10
YOUTH PROSPECTS (U23)
Emile Smith Rowe, (Six-Month Loan) RB Leipzig
Age: 18
Position: Left-Midfield
Following in the footsteps of teammate Reiss Nelson didn't go quite as planned for the young attacking prospect. Although Rowe excelled in the first half of the season with his parent club, (making debut appearances and scoring goals in the Europa League and EFL Cup) his form didn't carry on into Germany. Joining RB Leipzig for the second-half of the season, Rowe only played a total of 26 minutes in his 3 appearances for the club.
Rating: 3/10
Kelechi Nwakali, (Six-Month Loan) FC Porto B
Age: 21
Position: Attacking Midfield
The young Nigerian struggled to take control of the Portuguese Second Division where he only made 16 appearances across the season. He scored 0 goals and created 0 assists.
Rating: 3/10
