Kyle Bartley has recently gone on record saying that he has no plans of going out on loan and is aiming to break into the Arsenal first-team squad this season.
But the question is, is the youngster ready?
Despite the fact that the 19-year-old spent last season on loan with Scottish outfit Rangers, helping them clinch the SPL title, did he really show enough at the Ibrox to state a claim for first-team football at the Emirates?
Even though he aspires to play first-team football, he is still way down the pecking order at Arsenal, with a number of more experienced centre-backs currently ahead of him.
The 6’3’’ defender is not prepared to give up though and believes the new season will be the one that sees him squeeze into the first-team at the Emirates.
Bartley was quoted on Sky Sports recently stating:
‘If I’m honest, I don’t think I was anywhere near the level to play for Arsenal last season. But I’ve come back, I feel really strong and I feel that I am ready now. I learned the demands of being at a top football club who are trying to win things and how important it is to be a champion and a winner.’
‘Every time you step on the pitch, you are going out there to win so there is a lot of pressure on you. I think I can offer something else as I am a little bit different to the other centre-backs.’
‘I spoke to the boss on the Friday before they left for Asia and he told me they had four centre-backs going on the tour and obviously I wasn’t fully over my (knee) injury yet.’
‘It was always the aim to get back for the start of pre-season because it’s an important time of the year. I will be back with them on Tuesday when they are back in training with a view to going to Germany with them.’
Bartley finished off by saying:
‘My hopes are the same as every year, to be an Arsenal first-team player. Hopefully, this year, that will happen.’
In my opinion, Kyle will have a tough time acquiring first-team football at Arsenal, especially having to compete with the likes of Thomas Vermaelen, Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny, Miquel Ignasi and Sebastien Squllaci. But, like Bartley said, he could offer something different as a centre-back, and if this is true, then surely he has a chance of bridging the gap this season.
Bartley is talented. However, the young defender may need a little more time to grow and develop as a player before he can be considered a regular at the Emirates.
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squillaci should go and give kyle the chance!! he will be better than him!!
agreed
Get rid of squillaci the wasteman!
if the guy is so sure of himself, i think wenger should give him a chance a to prove himself
ONE WORD! BRING IN EXPERIENCED DEFENDERS WITH CHAMPIONS’ ATTITUDE!
But wengers experience last time was a crap 30 yr old , as long as the players good enough , I’ll take quilty over experience & I’ll bet bartley is I know to Spl isn’t as good as the premiership but it’s still closer enough compared to Spain where the squid played for Seville.
Can’t be worse than Squidface and Rangers are masters at anti-football. Kyle learned from some of the best at not allowing goals – can’t go wrong with giving him a shot.
I’ve seeen him play, he’s pure, 24 carat shite, in my humble opinion.