Arsenal are beginning to reap the fruits from the labour of their secret transfer guru as the Gunners edge closer to emulating Chelsea's world-famed loan network.
The north London side have seen an increased emphasis on the meticulous loaning out of players following the appointment of Ben Knapper's as Arsenal's loan manager in 2019.
Josh Kroenke's promotion of the 34-year-old from lead analyst followed a summer transfer window which saw their London Rivals send out an eye-watering 39 players on loan; the Gunners had just a mere seven.
Chelsea's loan programme was no secret either and the Blues were seemingly on the brink of igniting a domestic dynasty having enjoyed as much success with the academy as the first-team.
At the other end of the spectrum, by the end of the 2017/18 season Arsenal were a club in free fall following the toxic departure of Arsene Wenger, who had just led the Gunners to a finish outside the top five for the first time in the Premier League era.
A few miles south, Chelsea had just enjoyed a Premier League and FA Cup in successive seasons while the under-18s wrapped up a historic domestic quadruple.
There was a polarising contrast in the directionality on and off the pitch radiated by either side so Knapper was handed his opportunity to turn the tide and emulate the west London side's success at the Emirates.
Arsenal were aware of the storm brewing at Stamford Bridge, according to Goal, and looked to weather Chelsea's dominance, whose snowballing success stemmed from their loan network.
The loan manager role was opened for Knapper and he soon steered the Gunners towards the mainland which now sees the club have 17 players out on loan this season, seven of which are first-team players, with the other ten coming from the youth teams.
Knapper is beginning to make a name for himself and his recognition as someone who has operated in the loan market with such success poses a threat to Edu's role.
Arsenal must consider whether their loan manager has the potential to step up into a role similar to Chelsea's Marina Granvoskaia and pick up the reins on clever transfer operations.
Abramovich's transfer chief, who has formally recognised as the best club director in Europe of the year, has constructed - with the help of loan player technical managers Claude Makelele, Carlo Cudicini and Paulo Ferreira - the core of Thomas Tuchel's success.
In the final of the Champions League last season six of Chelsea's travelling squad were either sent through or picked up via the club's comprehensive loan network, showing the Kroenkes hard evidence of what Knapper could do with Arsenal if given the tools.
The Gunners' work with Smith Rowe, among other loanees, is just the start of Arsenal's new era but Knapper needs the support to claw back the north London side's lead over Chelsea.
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