Oleksandr Zinchenko completed a deadline-day move to Nottingham Forest.placeholder image
Oleksandr Zinchenko completed a deadline-day move to Nottingham Forest. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal loaned out Oleksandr Zinchenko to Nottingham Forest on deadline day
Arsenal had a successful deadline day to complete an outstanding transfer window of business for Mikel Arteta’s side.
But it was their late business in securing exits which will have equally caught the eye on Monday, as all of six castaway stars sealed moves away from the Emirates. Jakub Kiwior was one of those to depart, joining Porto on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for £24m.
Fabio Vieira also secured a loan exit to German side Hamburg, while Albert Sambi Lokonga joined him on a permanent deal at the newly-promoted Bundesliga side. Elsewhere, Reiss Nelson joined Brentford on loan and goalkeeper Lucas Martin Nygaard joined Brabrand IF, also on a loan deal. Finally, in arguably the most surprising move of them all, Oleksandr Zinchenko joined Nottingham Forest on loan for the season.
Zinchenko must wait for Nottingham Forest debut
Zinchenko will be made to wait for his Forest debut, though, as the Ukraine international will not be able to take the field for his new employers until September 20 at the earliest.
This is due to the fact that Forest travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal in their next fixture the week prior, which takes place following the international break. Premier League rules dictate that a player out on loan cannot feature against his parent club during the loan spell. The parent club, of course, being Arsenal in this situation, the 28-year-old must sit out the clash between the clubs on September 13 and watch on, at his former home ground, in a unique scenario for the Ukraine international.
Interestingly, UEFA rules state that a loan player is free to face his parent club in any UEFA European competition, while in the League Cup, this can happen but only if the parent club gives written consent. In the Premier League and FA Cup, it is forbidden.
What Arsenal’s deadline day business means for their season
Arsenal’s ability to pull through with such a productive deadline day could no doubt have a big impact on their season. Piero Hincapie could prove an astute signing to add to an already world-class defensive unit, while their success in offloading fringe players could go a long way to helping squad harmony.
While there was rarely any inclination of Arsenal having a ‘bomb squad’ comparable to that of Manchester United or Chelsea, several of the players loaned out or sold were known to have no future at the Emirates, such as Zinchenko, who had fallen behind the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori in the pecking order and was therefore given permission to leave.
Keeping players not wanted by Arteta around would not only have been a waste of wages, it could have hindered a squad togetherness where each player feels a part of the project and all are moving in the same direction.
While securing permanent sales for the likes of Zinchenko and Vieira would likely have been the preferred outcome, the hope will be that they impress out on loan and therefore become more desirable for a permanent exit next summer. It is difficult to criticise Arteta or the Arsenal board for how they have gone about their business in this transfer window. What remains to be seen is if it ultimately pays dividends and leads to the trophy glory Gunners fans crave.
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