While Arsenal's first team excels in the Premier League, loanees continue to impress elsewhere.
Folarin Balogun scored his first goal for Middlesbrough last week after a number of encouraging performances. William Saliba is also enjoying a solid campaign with Marseille and continuing to show why he deserves to be included in Mikel Arteta's plans next season.
Meanwhile, Brooke Norton-Cuffy has been a standout for League One side Lincoln City this season, becoming a fan favourite among Imps supporters.
Like Balogun, the 18-year-old completed his loan switch in January after the club decided it was best for the next stage of his development. Possessing energy, pace and versatility, Norton-Cuffy can play right-back, right midfield and centre back, although the full-back role is his more natural position.
That's where he has played most so far and a string of impressive displays have led to Lincoln boss Michael Appleton making a big claim about the youngster.
"I've been saying it behind the scenes, I think he will play for Arsenal's first team on a regular basis, it might not happen for a couple of years but it's definitely going to happen," he said.
With Mikel Arteta understood to be on the lookout for a new right-back understudy this summer, there is the possibility for Norton-Cuffy to get his first-team opportunity a lot sooner than most would have imagined.
The Athletic has reported that Arsenal have offered a new deal to the player which he is expected to sign, despite a growing number of admirers among Premier League and major European clubs. football.london have previously reported that Arteta has been keeping a watchful eye on the progress of Norton-Cuffy during his stay at the LNER Stadium and Per Mertesacker has been particularly impressed.
However, one side of his game will need to be improved first if he wants to receive that first-team chance.
The Hale End academy product was sent off at the weekend after getting himself involved in an altercation with an opposition player which allegedly involved a headbutt.
Although replays do not appear to show Norton-Cuffy making contact with a player with his head, he unnecessarily shoved AFC Wimbledon's Lee Brown after the ball had gone out of play before both players squared up to each other.
Whether it's viewed as a harsh decision or not, preventable incidents like this do not go down well with Arteta, who has witnessed 15 red cards since taking charge in 2019.
The Spaniard has previously admitted his concern over the dismissal record and said "I've run out of ideas I think" when asked how he can reduce the number of reds his players were receiving.
It's important to remember that Norton-Cuffy is still very young and has a lot of development to go through but if he is to become a key member of the senior Arsenal side in the near future, Arteta will need to ensure his discipline remains in order.
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