Mikel Arteta believes Gedion Zelalem’s move to Rangers is a good step for the midfielder.
Arsenal star Mikel Arteta has told The Scottish Sun that Gedion Zelalem’s loan move to Rangers is a great step for the midfielder.
Having signed Tottenham duo Dominic Ball and Nathan Oduwa on loan from Tottenham, Rangers boss Mark Warburton decided to use his contacts in London once again in order to land Zelalem.
The 18-year-old playmaker is tipped to have a bright future at the Emirates Stadium, and he has made two first-team appearances for the club before heading up to Ibrox over the summer.
The United States Under-23 international has been a mainstay of the Rangers side so far this season, and whilst he hasn’t been as prolific in front of goal as many had hoped, he has put in a number of impressive performance.
Zelalem is scheduled to return to Arsenal in January, but Rangers boss Warburton will certainly be looking to extend that deal until the end of the season, as the Gers chase promotion to the Scottish Premiership.
Now, former Rangers midfielder Mikel Arteta – currently at Arsenal – has told The Scottish Sun that he has seen plenty of potential from Zelalem during their time together with the Gunners, and believes that the spell with Rangers in the Scottish Championship will help Zelalem improve and develop as a player.
“We’ve had him around the first team squad for two years. He’s got something special,” said Arteta. “Going to Rangers will be good for him — if he can survive, because it’s not easy. It will be a very good step in his own development.”
“He was with the reserves at Arsenal, but the demands aren’t the same as at Rangers, so he needs to try and deal with that too,” he added.
Arteta certainly knows about the pressure of playing at Ibrox, and few are in a better position to advise Zelalem considering how his career has taken him to both Rangers and Arsenal – and the teenager should certainly listen to his Arsenal team-mate.
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