At one stage in Arsene Wenger’s reign, being sent out on loan was regarded as the beginning of the end of an Arsenal player’s career. Wenger typically tended to keep those young charges he prized most, such as Nicolas Anelka and Cesc Fabregas, under his wing at London Colney.
However, things have changed. In the modern environment, Wenger recognises the important of regular first-team football in accelerating a player’s progress. The likes of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey have both benefited from temporary moves elsewhere, and the Gunners boss now seems to see loan moves as a crucial point in a youngster’s development.
That’s where Isaac Hayden is right now. This summer, he and Chuba Akpom moved to Championship side Hull City on loan. Their mission is clear: to impress sufficiently to win a permanent place in the Arsenal squad.
Hayden could not be in better hands. Hull boss Steve Bruce and Wenger have worked closely together over the years, with the likes of Sebastien Larsson, Nicklas Bendtner and Fabrice Muamba all enjoying spells under the gentle Geordie’s tutelage. Wenger admires the attacking brand of football Bruce attempts to play, and is willing to trust him with some of his most prized young players.
Hayden is among those. The 20-year-old has been capped by his country at every level from U-16 through to U-20. Thus far, he only has two senior appearances for Arsenal to his name, both of which came in the Capital One Cup. However, he has been an unused substitute in a Champions League tie against Bayern Munich, and was rewarded with a long-term contract in February 2014. Had he not spent much of last season recuperating from injury, he would surely have significantly more first-team experience already.
Arsenal fought hard to secure him from a young age. At 14, they fought off competition from Manchester United to secure Hayden’s signature, with the promising teenager eager to emulate his idol, former Gunners skipper Patrick Vieira. Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail (h/t IB Times), Hayden admitted:
I was 14 when I joined Arsenal. I'd been at Southend before from the age of under-10s. We played Arsenal in a friendly at under-13s and they said they'd take me.
They were my team growing up because my idol was Patrick Vieira. I always watched his game and studied what he did.
As soon as I got the nod, and the choice between Manchester United and Arsenal, it was an easy decision. I said 'Drive me there now!' as soon as I knew they were interested. It felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity. Man United were keen but when you're 13 and living in London with your parents, it was a no brainer.
It’s easy to see Vieira’s influence on Hayden’s game. When deployed in midfield, his powerful physique and loping stride enable him to spin away from his markers with ease. He is as adept at turning away from the opposition as he is at taking the ball off them.
However, versatility is another one of his strong suits. Part of Hayden’s appeal to Wenger is his ability to slot in at centre-back as well as holding midfield. Alex Song was similarly adaptable, and it proved very handy for when the Gunners needed to reshuffle their pack and chase the game.
In this age of teenage tyros, 20 may seem relatively late to still be awaiting a major breakthrough. Hayden has been in and out of the Hull team this season, making three Championship starts and three substitute appearances, all of which have come in central midfield. It’s important to remember that defensive-minded players tend to develop at a slower rate than attackers. The tactical intelligence and positional discipline they require takes more time to accumulate. It’s no coincidence that as players age, they tend to move into deeper roles.
There is still plenty of time for Hayden to come good. He has the physicality and the potential. What’s more, with Mikel Arteta just a year from the expiry of his contract, there may soon be a spot open for him. This year with Hull is a fantastic opportunity for him to stake his claim for a place in Wenger’s plans.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2566950-why-isaac-hayden-will-be-a-future-star-for-arsenal
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