Going into this season Tommy Setford didn’t have any experience of senior football as he made the switch from Ajax to Arsenal.
This campaign the highly-rated prospect made his first-team debut against Preston in the Carabao Cup, keeping a clean sheet in the process, while he has been involved as the third-choice goalkeeper throughout the season.
Setford, who is very confident in possession, also received game time for Arsenal at U21 and U19 level and thoughts are now beginning to turn to what the plan will be for him next season.
It remains to be seen who the third-choice goalkeeper will be for the senior squad next campaign. Karl Hein is set to return from loan but could depart permanently, Lucas Nygaard is talented but has struggled with injuries and Alexei Rojas is set to stay but hasn’t featured at any level this season.
Setford is certainly in need of further senior experience and therefore a loan move could prove to be hugely beneficial for the 19-year-old should he play regularly.
Although he will have learned a great deal from testing himself against first-team players in training, Setford will be eager to get playing time at senior level and it will be interesting to see how he fares should that scenario arise.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird