Former England international Trevor Sinclair believes that Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock will want to return to the Gunners next season after proving Mikel Arteta his worth on loan at Newcastle United.
Speaking on TalkSPORT’s GameDay podcast, the ex-West Ham winger claimed that the 21-year-old Hale End academy graduate will be itching to return to north London after a productive loan spell with Newcastle, with Willock bagging five goals for the Toon since joining in January, with the midfielder scoring against the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool.
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There have been rumours that Newcastle could make a permanent move for Willock as reported by the Chronicle, but it is looking likely that the youngster will return to Arsenal this summer to stake a claim in the first-team after being used as mainly a squad player in the first half of this season, and for Sinclair, he believes the England youth international will want to prove himself at his boyhood club.
The former Premier League attacker said: “If I was him, I would want to get back to Arsenal. Because from what I have seen from Arsenal’s midfield, they haven’t been anywhere near as good or as productive as what I have seen from Joe Willock. His athleticism, his desire to affect the game and he is a box-to-box player playing with freedom and playing like he is wanting to prove someone wrong.
“If you ask any player who has been released out on loan that is the first thing you go for. Prove people who have let you go wrong. He has done that over the last three months and he has been exceptional for Newcastle.”
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Willock has long been viewed, by supporters, as a player who could offer the Arsenal first-team something different in both the attack and midfield, and his loan spell at Newcastle this season has proven that and more.
The Hale End academy graduate has been a revelation for the Toon in the second half of the season, and his goals and impact go to show that Arsenal have a talent on their hands, and with the midfield failing spectacularly this season to score many goals, Willock could find himself in contention for a first-team spot.