Arsenal have today confirmed that striker Benik Afobe has joined Reading on loan for the remainder of the campaign, with the 19 year old hopeful of playing a part in propelling Brian McDermott’s side back to the Premier League after a five year absence.
It says something for Afobe’s reputation that he has been plunged into a battle for promotion despite missing much of the campaign through injury. He completed his first 90 minutes for almost a year as the Reserves drew with Liverpool on Tuesday, in what was just his fourth appearance of the campaign.
The England under-19 international impressed whilst on loan with Huddersfield Town last season, and came close to helping The Terriers to promotion to the Championship. He followed that up by featuring for the first-team in pre-season, which included a prolonged run-out against New York Red Bulls in the Emirates Cup.
Afobe’s move provides an apt opportunity to assess the current state of the other loanees from outside the first-team squad. Craig Eastmond has impressed in his six performances thus far for Wycombe Wanderers, building on his good form at Reserve level earlier in the campaign. However, it is still difficult to envisage a long-term future at the club for the midfield player with the likes of Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong blocking his path to the first-team.
Henri Lansbury is still unable to command a regular place in the side at West Ham United, and has started just 11 matches for The Hammers so far this term. Having previously proved his worth on loan at Scunthorpe, Watford and Norwich, a decision will have to be made on Lansbury’s long-term Arsenal future in the summer.
Rhys Murphy has, unsurprisingly, seen his spell with Preston hampered by injury. The striker showed some promising signs during his first start for the club but has been out for the past couple of weeks, whilst defender Sead Hajrovic looks likely to return to Arsenal having not featured in Barnet’s last few fixtures. The Swiss youth international has made seven appearances for the League Two side.
Sanchez Watt missed Crawley’s last fixture but is progressing well there, having scored twice in seven games, whilst Kyle Bartley looks set to remain with Rangers until the end of the campaign despite Rangers’ financial problems.
Wellington has become increasingly involved with Alcoyano, whilst Pedro Botelho and Samuel Galindo have also received some game time at Levante and Gimnastic respectively.
Meanwhile, first year scholar Isaac Hayden has signed professional terms with the club. The versatile youngster has primarily operated as a centre-back this season, but has also featured in central midfield and at right-back on occasion. He has been a regular for the under-18s this campaign, making 19 appearances, all but two of which were starts, and was an un-used substitute in the FA Youth Cup defeat to Derby.
