Bolton have secured the signing of Arsenal youngster Ryo Miyaichi on a season long loan. The 19-year old Japanese was signed by the Gunners in last season’s winter transfer window and has failed to break into the first team, despite being billed as a rising star by Arsene Wenger. In fact he was the second Japanese to be signed by the Gunners, the first one being a certain Junichi Inamoto.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle was quoted by the club’s website as saying, “He’s a very talented young player, who is quick and exciting. He had a great spell on loan at Feyenoord last season. He’s a young player with tremendous promise and potential and hopefully at Bolton we can give him a platform on which he can display his qualities.”
Miyaichi was shipped out on loan to Feyenoord last January, and•made a total of 12 appearances, scoring 3 goals and creating another 5 in his limited opportunities. Arsene Wenger opted not to send the youngster out on loan this summer, instead giving him a chance to train with the first team where he could personally monitor his progress. However, Miyaichi has failed to break into the first team despite being named on the subs bench for a number of games. He did get a couple of outings in the Carling Cup, and at his age needs regular football to boost his development.
Bolton will be hoping that Miyaichi has the kind of impact that another young Gunner Jack Wilshere had when he joined on loan three years ago and can help bring in some creativity into a Bolton side that is currently flirting with relegation.
The move would also give Miyaichi a chance to develop his game further and eventually stake a claim to a first team spot at the Emirates, something that was again accomplished by Wilshere, who went to become an integral part of Arsenal’s midfield upon his return from the Trotters.
Bolton though are rather blessed with left-wingers, Miyaichi’s natural position, and the youngster will need to compete with the likes of Martin Petrov and Matt Taylor for a starting berth. Perhaps the Trotters intend to deploy him on the right wing, where they have fewer options, and believe a player with better natural ball control and oodles of pace could help feed summer signing David N’Gog better than their existing prospects.
(TheSportsCampus)
Another informed commentary. Matt Taylor plays for West Ham and has done since August!