Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised Joe Willock’s ‘ability and desire’ following another important goal for Newcastle United.
He also feels his stint at St James’ Park has been the perfect move for his development – even if his performance levels and minutes on the pitch ‘need more consistency’.
Bruce has made his feelings clear over extending the midfielder’s stay on Tyneside – another loan move has been touted – and it seems the vast majority of Newcastle fans already share his eagerness to keep him at the club,
Willock has bagged three goals since arriving on loan in January, scoring on his debut against Southampton, bagging a late equaliser to snatch a point from Spurs and heading home to hand us a huge win over West Ham on Saturday.
Here’s what Arteta had to say after his side scored a 97th minute goal on Sunday to deny relegation rivals Fulham all three points:
“I’m really happy with Joe because he scored a massive goal [against West Ham] for their club [Newcastle United].
“So when he produces big moments like that, for a young talent like him it’s very satisfying.
“Joe can do it.
“He has got the ability and the desire and now he needs more consistency in terms of minutes and performances.
“That’s great for his development and that’s why we believed it [the loan to Newcastle] was the right option.”
Arsenal did us a big favour in allowing us to sign a much needed box-to-box midfielder in January, but also handed our survival hopes a boost by scoring late against Scott Parker’s side yesterday – denying Fulham of the win they so badly needed.
Although Arteta speaks highly of Willock, it’s been reported that he could be sold for the right price this summer.
A permanent deal would be well worth pursuing from what we’ve seen so far, but the current lack of finances (providing Ashley remains) means another loan seems far more likely.
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