Rio Ferdinand has called on Mikel Arteta to give Joe Willock a chance at the club following his successful loan move to Newcastle United.
The former England defender thinks 21-year-old Willock has done enough during his loan spell away from the Gunners to be given a run at his boyhood club.
Willock joined Arsenal at the age of four, progressing his way through the youth ranks until he made his senior debut as an 18-year-old in 2018 against his future club Newcastle.
The England Under-21 international scored on his Magpies debut in February of this year, before embarking on a six-game goal drought.
He was subsequently dropped from the starting XI and has returned to form as a 'super sub' for Steve Bruce's team, scoring in three consecutive appearances as a replacement.
Willock came off the bench late on to snatch an equaliser against Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham in the Premier League. A week later, the young forward scored the winner versus West Ham, just moments after entering the game.
His goalscoring form continued on Saturday when he snatched a last-gasp equaliser at Anfield and in the process almost certainly secured Newcastle's Premier League status next season.
It has been his personality to stand up and be counted when under huge pressure that has impressed Ferdinand and the former Manchester United defender thinks he has earned a chance at Arsenal next season.
"You know what, I like Joe Willock," Ferdinand told FIVE.
"He’s someone at Arsenal that I would have kept. He’s a good young player. If Arsenal don’t take him back and have him around that squad… I don’t know, man.
"I really like him and I like his personality. He’s not shy to come on the big stage and play and perform.
"And the last three goals he’s scored have been massive goals for Newcastle. It shows he’s got the temperament."
Arteta is set to have a major overhaul of his failing squad with the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah, Matteo Guendouzi, and Lucas Torreira all likely to be sold in order to raise the funds needed to bring in fresh faces.
Hector Bellerin is another whose future is in doubt and there are question marks over where Willock will be plying his trade next season.
Bruce has made it clear he would welcome the forward back to St James' Park and with two years still to run on Willock's current deal Arteta has a big decision to make about the young player's future.
