To say it's been a rather turbulent first season in north London for Portuguese defender Nuno Tavares is an understatement, who has experienced both highs and lows in an Arsenal shirt so far.
Acquired for a fee believed to be in the region of £7 million, Tavares was signed to provide left-back cover, tasked with coming into the team if Kieran Tierney was to sustain an injury or become unavailable for other reasons.
The 22-year-old delivered some strong performances earlier on in the season against the likes of Aston Villa, Leicester and Watford but since the turn of the new year, he has struggled when called into action.
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Mikel Arteta hooked Tavares before half-time in the Gunners' 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup and the 6ft full-back was used sparingly in the Premier League despite Tierney suffering knee ligament damage during international duty which ruled him out of action for the latter stages of the campaign.
It's clear that Tavares is very raw, who shows clear deficiencies both with and without the ball, particularly in deeper areas so a loan elsewhere that will allow him to learn his trade without being a detriment seems to be a sensible option.
If recent reports are to be believed then there may be the potential opportunity for Arsenal's number 20 to play in Serie A for Atalanta, who are reportedly interested in taking him on loan.
Perhaps this is the perfect move for Nuno, who essentially would be operating as a left-wing back under Gian Piero Gasperini, which would allow him to showcase his best qualities inside the final third.
This loan would allow Tavares to build his reputation, which can only be a positive for Arsenal who could either cash in next summer and profit from his purchase or integrate him back into the team for the 2023/2024 season.
