Arsenal forgotten youngster pleads with Mikel Arteta for champions league chance next season after five loans in three years
Arsenal youngster has urged the club to make a decision on his long-term future and claims he wants to ‘settle down’ having been sent out on loan five times since 2020.
The 22-year-old has spent the past season on loan in League One, making 17 appearances as Kieran McKenna’s side gained promotion to the Championship. It is the latest of a succession of short-term deals for John-Jules in the EFL, with previous loan spells at Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday.
Once billed as a future star, John-Jules signed a long-term contract in 2019 amid interest from Bayern Munich, but with a year left on that deal he has now spoken out about his future having not made a single appearance for the Gunners. The right-footed striker has been overtaken by talents such as Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson in recent years and a breakthrough looks increasingly unlikely.
The forward has now spoken candidly about his future, expressing a need for clarity on what lies ahead. He told The Beautiful Game : “I’ve got one year left on my contract at Arsenal. I’ve had five loans now and each one feels like you’re getting further from the first team.
“That said, my boy [Folarin] Balogun is ripping it up on loan at the moment [at Reims] and I’d say he’s getting closer. I guess everyone has their own path. Right now I’m just trying to get back fit for the start of pre-season
“Talks will have to happen at some point – whether I stay, go out on loan or leave on a permanent. I just want to settle somewhere, whether that’s signing a new contract with Arsenal or going somewhere else on a permanent.
“I think it’s time to settle down and just focus and chill instead of hopping from loan to loan. It’s difficult and it’s draining travelling to all these places.. Settling and focusing on one team would be ideal, whether that’s Arsenal or somewhere else. I’m all ears. I want to hear every side and I will pick the best option for me.”
John-Jules has not had a prolific loan career, with just nine goals in 54 matches in the EFL, the bulk of these came in one loan spell with Doncaster in 2020/21, where he scored five goals in 18 matches. With his contract set to run down, and many EFL clubs constrained by increasingly tight FFP rules, another loan may be the most likely option before a free transfer next summer.
Having represented England from U16 to U21 level, the striker will have no shortage of interested parties at home and abroad. He is in a similar position to fellow Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino also thought to be in line for a departure this summer in search of first-team opportunities.
