Much of the focus on Arsenal has been on the players that the Gunners have brought in. Not a lot has been said about the players that have left the club.
There have been a few high profile departures that have happened this season with the most prominent being that of Jack Wilshere.
Despite this, there is one deal that has gone under the radar and that would be the deal that takes Kelechi Nwakali to Porto on loan as it was by confirmed by the Arsenal’s official website.
This confirmation comes a little after the one that the Portuguese club had given. There was this belief that Nwakali would be a part of the Gunners squad this season.
It must be that the club decided that the player would be better off if he got some playing time elsewhere. Porto are known for their ability to nurture young talent so it makes sense that the Nigerian chose this club as his destination.
He is quite highly rated by those at the club and he was able to showcase his talent during his two loan spells in the Netherlands. Though he has not played a game for Arsenal, there is a belief that he will make his mark on the Gunners squad at some point in the future.
Nwakali himself had a lot to say about the move and the reason behind it. After the move was confirmed by the Portuguese side, he said:
“My main goal is to develop and evolve as a player. Improve my qualities and the other aspects that I know I need to correct to help me grow in the way I play.
I think FC Porto is the right place to evolve as a player. There are good players, young people, and I think I’ll grow up here.
I know FC Porto very well, because one of my football idols has played here: Deco.
He was a midfielder that I loved to watch play and I really hope to be able to meet him one day and tell him the importance he had in my desire to be a football player.”
Arsenal will feel very happy if he comes back to the club as a much better player and that is very much a possibility given the atmosphere that exists at Porto.
Nwakali has always been able to impress wherever he has played as he has shown his talents on the national stage as well. Everyone at Arsenal would surely wish him the best of luck for his loan spell.
