Mikel Arteta thinks his decision to loan out Joe Willock is being proven right

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has told Football.London that he is delighted to see Joe Willock thriving at Newcastle United.

The Gunners were disappointing on Sunday afternoon, only mustering a 1-1 draw with Fulham – and even that took a last-gasp Eddie Nketiah goal.

Over 24 hours earlier, Fulham had been dealt a blow by another Hale End prospect as Joe Willock popped up with the winner for Newcastle United against West Ham United.

Willock’s goal pushes Newcastle closer to safety and Fulham closer to the drop, meaning they’re probably sick of Arsenal youth prospects right now.

As for Willock, this was another sign of his quality. He has now scored three times in just nine Premier League outings for the Magpies having joined on loan in the January transfer window.

The 21-year-old is desperate to prove that he can be a star at Arsenal, and he needed this loan move in order to show it.

After the draw with Fulham, Arsenal boss Arteta admitted that seeing Willock produce his winner against West Ham was ‘very satisfying’.

Arteta noted that he knows Willock has the ability to produce these moments, and believe he is now being proven right in his decision to loan him out as he is developing well on Tyneside.

“Yeah, I’m really happy with Joe because he scored a massive goal for the club,” said Arteta. “So, when he produces big moments like that it’s very satisfying. Joe can do it, he’s got the ability and the desire and now he’s having more consistency in terms of minutes and performances and that’s great for his development. That’s why we all believed it was the right thing for him to go on loan,” he added.