James Olayinka trained with Arsenal’s first team today after being denied a chance to leave the Premier League giants on loan during the transfer window, as reported by All Nigeria Soccer.
As the sands of time ticked by and the September deadline loomed into view, Olayinka started to wonder.
Would he be better off leaving the Emirates for a short-term stint elsewhere? Is the versatile defender part of Mikel Arteta’s plans this term?
If Ainsley Maitland-Niles can’t get a game right now, what are the chances of Olayinka forcing his way into the match-day squad?
Either way, following an injury-hit 2020/21 campaign, it seems there was a paucity of EFL clubs willing to take a punt on the Lambeth-born 20-year-old.
It didn’t help that Olayinka missed a sizeable chunk of his short-lived spell at Southend United last season because of torn ankle ligaments.
“(Olayinka) has got all the attributes we need and that’s why we’ve brought him in,” Shrimpers coach Max Molesley told The Echo at the time.
“He has a lot of energy and he’s good on the ball too.”
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Can Olayinka break into the Arsenal starting XI?
Fortunately those attributes remain undiminished – even after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
And, clearly, Olayinka has put his disappointment at missing out on a summer move to one side, getting his head down and impressing behind the scenes, catching the eye of Arteta along the way.
It’s understood Olayinka trained alongside the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White today as Arsenal prepare to take on the only side sitting below them in the Premier League table this weekend – newly promoted Norwich City.
Perhaps, with Hector Bellerin gone and Calum Chambers’ brief resurgence ending as quickly as it began, an opportunity at right-back will open up for Olayinka before long.
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