A Loan Is A Loan (Except When Arsenal Say So)

Having only recently joined Coventry City on loan until the end of the season, striker Chuba Akpom was recalled by Arsenal last week on a temporary basis to play in their FA Youth Cup game at Charlton Athletic and possibly also in the UEFA Youth League fixture with Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.

The Sky Blues put a brave face on the news, development director Steve Waggott telling the official club website: ‘He has been an integral part of their FA Youth Cup run and we understand Head of Youth Development Liam Brady’s reasoning for wanting him back for their upcoming games.’

Apparently the recall was always a possibility but with Arsenal having progressed to the next round of the competition will the same thing happen again when they play their quarter-final fixture?

Surely a deal until the end of the season is just that unless circumstances force the parent club into recalling a player to deal with an injury crisis? Either Arsenal want the player to have first-team experience at a good level or they want their best youngsters to stay at the club and give them a chance of winning the FA Youth Cup?

To enable them to be able to have their cake and eat it shows where the balance of power lies in English football.