2) Chuba Akpom
Highly rated and looking good in pre-season for the Gunners, but another loan spell could be what’s missing for Akpom’s breakthrough.
At this moment in time, the 19-year-old will be trying to muscle his way into the striker role alongside Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez.
Now, that level of quality up top may seem like good news for Arsenal fans but when it comes to the development of Akpom, it’s not going to help.
The forward has enjoyed substitute appearances with the first team this season after featuring regularly in the match-day squad’s bench, but he has his sights set firmly on more than just that.
Through his social media channels and press conferences, Akpom has made it no secret that he wants to follow in the footsteps of club legend, Thierry Henry, who is arguably the greatest talent to play under Arsene Wenger.
However, if he thinks he is going to get anywhere near the quality of the Frenchman, Akpom must first experience regular Premier League football, at a club where he is the main man up top.
And although there is no doubt in that, the question is where he will best suit in England’s top division, with his public image being a serious put-off for managers.
The Arsenal faithful have often commented on the Englishman’s ‘grumpy’ attitude, in which Akpom seems to look lazy off the ball as well as on it.
But for clubs that are solely after a player that can knock 10-15 goals in a season, Akpom is a pretty decent bargain at around £20,000 wages per week.
An almost perfect club for the youngster to develop would be somewhere like Crystal Palace, a place where Arsenal players have had success in the past.
Alan Pardew has been the man behind Palace’s serious turnaround in league form, and having loaned out Yaya Sanogo back in January, has enjoyed a good relationship with the club.
Akpom could immediately step into Sanogo’s shoes, who sadly didn’t perform well at The Eagles, scoring just one goal in his 10 appearances.
What Akpom must now master is the ability to compete with players that are on his level, and he can do exactly that at Palace, with Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray are on the radar up top.