Arsenal have officially confirmed that young keeper Ryan Huddart has joined National League club Eastleigh FC until the end of next season, as per Arsenal’s official website.
The 19-year-old has been the Gunners first choice keeper in the U-18 UEFA youth league campaign throughout the last season.
The youngster hasn’t featured in the first team yet but made it to the bench in a couple of Champions League group games.
He is still pretty young but the time is running out for the Englishman at Arsenal, as he has 3 players ahead of him in the starting eleven and this loan spell will only make it even harder for him to break into the team.
Unless he puts an outstanding shift, it is unlikely that he will fall into Wenger’s eyes. The loan deal shows that the Gunners want him at the club, but not finding a better club than National League is quite puzzling.
Here is the official statement from Arsenal’s official website:
Young goalkeeper Ryan Huddart will join National League side Eastleigh FC on a season-long loan.
A former England youth international, Huddart joins Eastleigh for the opportunity to play senior football.
Everyone at Arsenal wishes Ryan the best for his time with the Hampshire club.
The loan is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
He has Cech, Ospina, Szczesny and Emiliano Martinez in front of him. However, the situation is expected to change this summer with Ospina and Szczesny expected to depart.
If that indeed happens then Ryan has a chance of making the grade at the Emirates because Cech is aging and unless Wenger signs some other keeper, he will have a chance to fight it out with Martinez in the coming years.
I still feel that this loan deal might not help the youngster and this is not to insult but the general quality is quite low. It would have been great for him if he had a shot in some higher leagues, but let’s see.
