Arsenal’s Daniel Crowley is set to leave the club. Was leaving Aston Villa an error?
It is a surprise move for the 19-year-old who has not managed to crack the Gunners first team as many expected.
The midfielder is a bright talent, who impressed on loan at Barnsley two seasons ago before being recalled.
Daniel Crowley… Arsenal exit?
But you can’t help but wonder whether Crowley would have been better off staying at Aston Villa where he started out.
Crowley was the jewel in Aston Villa’s academy system when he quit the club to join Arsenal, hailed as the next Jack Wilshere.
He is an England youth international, but his last appearance for the under-19s came back in 2015.
England’s Daniel Crowley (L) and Portugal’s Ruben Neves in action
Crowley unfortunately appears set to leave Arsenal without ever playing a competitive first team game for the club.
It is hard to argue that this would have remained the case had he remained at Aston Villa, looking at the chances given to Jack Grealish over the past two seasons.
Last season Crowley was on loan at Dutch second tier side Go Ahead Eagles, and played 16 times, scoring twice.
It was valuable first team experience and he should be commended for electing to move abroad permanently.
Perhaps at Aston Villa he would have faded had he stayed, but at this point it is hard to argue his decision to leave the club has been a resounding success, whatever the future holds.
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