Arsenal’s loanees are some of the most talked about and debated players at the club, with thousands of fans using websites, blogs and social media to put their points across on potential stars of the future.
However, few truly know the daily goings on of players at their loan clubs like the actual supporters of that particular outfit. To get the full perspective on another crop of exciting youngsters, Young Guns’ Loanee Analysis sees me catch up with journalists who follow their club closely.
To get the low-down on Benik Afobe, I caught up with Doug Thomson, a football writer for the Huddersfield Examiner. He gave me the Terriers perspective on Afobe.
What was the feeling when Benik signed for Huddersfield?
“Lee Clark told me that he had signed Benik back in November, and I was very excited about it. He told us what a top prospect he was, what a good youth system Arsenal had, and how he had listened to Arsene Wenger at coaching seminars and built up a relationship with him. Lee was very pleased that a club like Arsenal considered Huddersfield a suitable place for one of their young players to gain experience.”
How has the season been, and what part did Benik play in it?
“Benik’s early time at Town was interrupted by him returning to Arsenal for Youth Cup and Reserve games, and also for treatment to injuries, and some supporters questioned whether the loan was worthwhile. Lee Clark, however, was insistent that he wanted to keep the player, and he was proved correct, because Benik became increasingly influential within the team, especially in away games when he played as the central striker in a three-man frontline.”
What would you consider his highlights this season?
“His biggest high has to be his two-goal and assist haul in the 3-2 win at champions Brighton.”
What would you consider his low-lights this season?
“Probably missing out on the chance to face his parent club in the FA Cup which would have been intriguing.”
What does the future hold and do you think he’ll make the grade at Arsenal?
“It’s always hard to tell how young players will develop, and chances at a big club like Arsenal are always going to be fewer than at lower-division teams, but from what we’ve seen Benik certainly has a chance, especially if he can hone his finishing skills.”
Any other stats, facts or little pieces of extra information?
“Benik’s scored eight goals in 35 appearances, 21 of which have been starts. He started the last 11 games running.”
“It’s fair to say he became a fans’ favourite, and was very popular with his teammates. From a journalist’s point of view, he’s a dream – always polite and ready to talk. He makes good points and is very down to earth.”
You can read all the articles in this series in our loanees area.
Benik Afob and Chuks Aneke are the future of Arsenal.
Sorry mate, but that’s quite a rash statement to make, with one of them never to have played competitive football. Don’t get me wrong, they’re both super talented, but it’s so early to say.
Cygan, you are such a killjoy
Good to hear! Nice to see one of players doing well and maintaining the rep of AFC. I’m sure he’ll do brilliantly for himself.
It sounds like Benik has a good head on his shoulders and he seems to be ahead of the curve when compared to some of our other 18 year-olds.
Next Ian Wright maybe? haha. hope to see him have a run out in the Carling Cup next year against a lower league side (if we’re drawn against one) provided he doesn’t go on loan again, and if he does hopefully it’s a championship team. PL team might be pushing it but u never know
Benik really seems to have made a good impression both on and off the pitch with Huddersfield. It’s refreshing to hear.
if i would to compare Benik with any one it would be Samuel Eto´o. Dont forget barca tried to get both Benik and Aneke last years so they clearly are top prospects
There have been a lot of overzealous pieces written about Benik Afobe’s time at Huddersfield. I’ve seen people post comments on this site asking if he should be in the Arsenal squad next season or loaned out to a premier league side.
I managed to watch Afobe three times while he was on loan and yes he did well but he isn’t as good as people are making out. In all the matches I saw, Huddersfield created a lot of chances and his finishing just wasn’t good enough.
There is a big jump between League One and Premier League and while the former is extremely physical and would have developed that aspect of his game. He will get nowhere near the same amount of time on the ball in the Premier League.
Just in my opinion I think Afobe should be loaned out to a Championship side or back to Huddersfield to carry on his development. And for the same reasons I think we should leave Alex Chamberlain at Southampton. Since they have been promoted he should be allowed to continue his development there.
Is there a chance that he would be Wenger’s team?
Arsenal’s attack system in 5-7 years:
——Ramsey——Wilshere
–Wellington——————-Miyaichi
————–Afobe
This array will be a legend, will remind us of the Arsenal in 2003 / 2004
I cant wait to see how he does in the Championship next season.
I agree with most of your post there Thomas, the only problem with letting Chamberlain develop is if he storms the champs next year, his price could rocket. Wenger has to weigh the risk of splashing out on a player who has only played league 1 football against the risk of potentially letting his price rocket.
He acted quickly in signing Theo and personally I think he’ll act quick on Chamberlain too.
But back to Afobe, it sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders. Hopefully he realises he has to work his socks off to make the 1st team and it isn’t a divine right of his like some of our youngsters.
I only caught a couple of games, but to me it looked like there were other attacking players playing off him, and he had been instructed to do the leg-work and harry defenders. I thought he was being used mainly for his strength and work-rate (which were bloody impressive, and reminded me of Olic a couple of years back) to open up space for his teammates, which meant that he didn’t really end up in positions where he could get goals for himself. You could tell that the opposition defenders weren’t happy playing against him though – the boy just never gave up, and the Huddersfield fans must have loved that.
Any chance that he will travel with the team to Asia?
Thing we should buy Chamberlain and loan him back for the first half of the season then see were to go from there, also think we need a winger Marc Albrighton good young with room to improve and english or Downing to replace rosicky
on afobe he needs a championship loan spell
i see big things for this kid at arsenal… main difference between him and emmanuel-thomas… when it isnt going good and when they have a bad game, benik keeps trying, and does his best… thomas gives up when its not going good, thats a big problem… i thing jamie mentioned that, on twitter i thing, and i couldnt agree more…
Top talent. Championship loan next season.
Gus Poyet said he was the best youngster in League One last season & is potentially interested in bringing him to Brighton next season.
Afobe is no new Eto’o, let’s quash that comparison right now.
i have a mixed feeling about loaning our best kids to lower division teams, its good because learn how to be competitive.the bad side is the way they run all over the pitch the get the ball, its really exhausting there is no cesc or wilshere to give you a great pass. you have to work harder to create/find chances.
personally i wouldnt judge our kids playing on loan in lower division.
That was even a problem for vela playing with wba. The number of times I saw him in a great position for a through-pass that was ignored was shocking to me. Cesc, nasri, arshavin, song etc would never have missed those opportunities to at least attempt to put him through on goal.
Benik Afobe is a real talent, he is quite tall as well which can only be a good thing considering the physical aspects of the premier league. His finishing at times was poor but with hard work and keeping his head down there is no doubt benik can be a main stay in the arsenal team in the future and i would like to see him get a loan move to a championship team with a attack minded approach which can only help his finishing to become the finished article as his work rate and other aaspects of his game such as holding of a defender are superb
I did not say he was the next ”Eto’o” i said if i where to compare him to any player it would be Eto’o. They are very similar if you haven’t notice, and by the way he has been tipped as the new eto’o since he was like 15 so there gotta be some truth in what im saying
To be fair adebayors finishing was shocking but got better through hard work (ironic I know) so what’s to say Benik can’t improve in that aspect of his game. He seems to have a level head, he may not be ready for first team but did we think Ashley cole jack wilshere would have had the effect on the team that they did! You never know he might show something in preseason like wilshere did
I’m undecided as to whether I think Aneke should follow Afobe out on loan next season. On one hand a Championship loan would see him get regular playing time against tough, physical opposition. However, if he stayed at Arsenal it’s possible that he could get some first team opportunities in the domestic cup competitions, and I’d imagine he’d acquit himself well.