- 19 hours ago
Mikel Arteta rules out Arsenal selling Joe Willock to Newcastle
Stefan Bienkowski
- Updated: 25 May 2021 07:41 BST
- 5 min read
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has ruled out any prospect of the club selling Joe Willock to Newcastle United this summer.
After struggling to break into the Arsenal first team during the first half of this season, Willock decided to move on loan to Newcastle in the January transfer window.
Since then the young midfielder made the move he has been an ever-present member of Steve Bruce’s Newcastle team.
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So much so that reports in England have suggested that the Premier League side would be willing to make the move permanent, if Arsenal were willing to sell the 21-year-old talent.
However, while Arteta was delighted to see Willock thrive at Newcastle, he fully expects the midfielder to be back playing for Arsenal next season.
‘Willock will be back with Arsenal next season’
When asked if he expects Willock to return to the club this summer, the Arsenal manager said: “Yes, and I’m really happy that things have gone so well for him because of the potential that Joe has.
“I think it was great for him to go away and have a different experience. He has grabbed that opportunity in a really remarkable and positive way.
“He will be back with us, we will have those conversations with him and plan the next years for him.”
Understandably, Newcastle would be delighted to take Willock back to the club next season on a permanent deal after his performances in the north east.
In just 13 Premier League games since the turn of the year, the attacking midfielder managed to bag seven goals and played a huge role in the club avoiding relegation.
The Arsenal manager added: “And he got the responsibility and the task to go to Newcastle to help them go where they want.
“I’m telling you that I spoke with the coaching staff and they are extremely happy because he was a key part in contributing to get the objectives that they had. So that’s a real positive for him.”
