Arsenal loanee eliminated from FA Cup

Arsenal are set to have a very quiet start to the FA Cup campaign, with their only lower-league loanee eliminated in the first round on Saturday.

In a marked contrast to many recent seasons, Arsenal currently only have one loanee in the English lower leagues. 20-year-old Charles Sagoe Jr. joined Shrewsbury Town in August, and he’s the one player to make that swap.

Arsenal have a relatively small loan group in general, particularly if you exclude the six senior players – Nuno Tavares (Lazio), Albert Sambi Lokonga (Sevilla), Fabio Vieira (Porto), Karl Hein (Real Valladolid), Marquinhos (Fluminense), and Reiss Nelson (Fulham).

Only Sagoe Jr. and Jack Henry-Francis have left the Arsenal u21s for loan spells, and Henry-Francis has now finished his loan with Sligo Rovers.

So whilst in previous seasons it’s become a tradition to round up how all the Arsenal loanees are getting on in the opening FA Cup rounds in November and December, it’s going to be a short update on this occasion.

Sagoe Jr. was handed a start for Shrewsbury Town away to Salford City on Saturday, and despite generally positive comments on his performance, he was withdrawn at half-time with the team losing 2-1.

“How many minutes has he given others to prove themselves and Sagoe Jr. gets 45,” one fan asked. Another added: “Ah yes, bring off one of our brightest sparks when losing and bring on one of the most plain and boring players in the squad.”

The substitution didn’t help Shrewsbury, and the game finished without any further goals to see them eliminated.

Barring a surprise emergency loan later this month, Arsenal now won’t have any players involved in the FA Cup until January, when the Gunners themselves will enter the competition along with Nelson and Fulham.