Back in 2011 when Toral and Bellerin joined Arsenal from Barcelona, it was Toral that Arsenal held the most interest in! The Spanish pair were on Arsene Wenger’s radar but Bellerin was supposedly an add on to the Toral deal which he held the much more interest in.
Now however five years down the line, it is the right back who has gone on to become an Arsenal regular, with Toral still yet to get a piece of first team action.
At the start of the season Arsene Wenger decided to send Toral out on loan for a third season in a row. He had spent the previous two years at Brentford and Birmingham in the Championship and impressed massively on both occasions. Toral has today found out however that his loan spell to Granada in Spain’s La Liga has been terminated six months early, after Arsene Wenger recognised he wasn’t getting enough game time.
Today a Granada club statement was issued stating: “Arsenal Football Club has decided to activate the option they had in the winter to recover Jon Toral, who maintained a link with the Granada CF assignment.”
The player had only managed six appearances for the club this season and now it seems that Wenger is keen for the player to get opportunities elsewhere. Rumours today suggest that Scottish giants Rangers have are in talks with the Gunners to take the Spaniard on loan for the remainder of the season and it could be an interesting move for the midfielder. It is understood that after Rangers took Zelalem on loan from Arsenal last season, that Wenger is now keen to strike a loan deal with the club this season for Toral.
The 21 year old still has time to develop at Arsenal, but it seems that he is still very much on the fridges of first team football with the Gunners. This is despite having impressive spells with his loan clubs in England.
Personally I’d like to see Arsene Wenger give Toral an opportunity to show us what he’s got in a cup competition. But whether that opportunity arises remains to be seen.
Should Toral get a chance at Arsenal this season, or is a loan move more likely?
By AH
If I’m being honest, Toral is suited for a bottom half team, or even a Championship team. I don’t think he’ll make it with us, he’d be considered right now if Wenger thought he had the necessary creativity or firepower.
He’s almost Oxlade’s age, he’s older than Bellerin, Holding. Chambers played at 19. We are short in this boy’s area of expertise, so it’s not looking good for him. Hopefully he’ll recognise that he’s reached a sink or swim stage, it’d be brilliant if he tuned things right around and showed how hungry and committed he can be.
another great prospect unearth by our wonderful scouting team . probably the best scouting team in the world !, lol.
We’ll never know if Toral would make a first team player as he has never had a chance , not even in the cup teams……