Arteta could unearth his new ESR in Arsenal’s 19 y/o sensation who was “tearing it up”

When loan spells work, they can be a truly game-changing source of experience for young players, with Arsenal one notable club to have utilised the system to their advantage in recent years.

You only need to ask William Saliba and Folarin Balogun how they feel about the loan process having both thrived in France after being presented with temporary stints in Ligue 1.

Saliba signed from St Etienne but experienced three separate loan spells across the channel on his way to being named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year in 2021/22.

It would not be a surprise if Balogun scooped that award this term, with the 21-year-old dazzling during a spell at Reims where he has scored 15 times in 23 league outings, a tally that is matched by a certain Kylian Mbappe.

But there have been spells closer to home that have also paid dividends with Emile Smith Rowe enjoying a fruitful spell at Huddersfield Town in 2020/21.

So good was the current England international that his manager at the time, Danny Cowley, quipped that he could “find space in a telephone box” such were his technical qualities.

Smith Rowe has since gone from strength to strength, earning his Three Lions debut while scoring 11 times last term – a career-best.

He has been injured for a great deal of time this campaign but the loan system could soon see Arsenal unearth their new Smith Rowe. That happens to be Marquinhos.

Where is Marquinhos now?

After suffering from a lack of game time in the first half of the season, having played just six times and once in the Premier Leaguethe Brazilian was granted a loan move to Norwich City in January.

The 19-year-old scored on his Arsenal debut in the Europa League and even registered an assist but that is as good as it’s got for the teenager who was “tearing it up” in Premier League 2.

In five U21 outings, Marquinhos scored four times and registered two assists, proving that he was too good for academy football, but perhaps not of the quality to play in the top flight.

The winger is yet to feature for the Canaries since signing on loan but should he make an impact in the back end of the campaign, a new Smith Rowe could be born.

It was in the Championship where the now 22-year-old really honed his skills, scoring twice and supplying three assists for the Terriers.

Those certainly aren’t jaw-dropping numbers but the time in Yorkshire grew his knowledge of the senior game in particular, helping him on his way to claiming the coveted number 10 shirt at Arsenal and becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet last term.

There is every hope that Marquinhos, who has been compared to Martinelli due to his Brazilian roots, could use his time away to have a Smith Rowe-like impact in the coming years.

Clearly a player with plenty of technical ability, the tricky livewire is ready and waiting to truly burst onto the scene.

Carrow Road could well be the place he does that, cementing his name in the thoughts of Mikel Arteta moving into 2023/24.