Rio Ferdinand lauds Arsenal loanee Joe Willock after latest goal

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Rio Ferdinand has told his YouTube channel that he is a big fan of Joe Willock and suggested that he would not be sure what Arsenal would be playing at if Mikel Arteta did not have him in his plans next season.

Willock’s loan move to Newcastle United has looked to be a masterstroke. The 21-year-old marked his debut with a goal in the win against Southampton.

And he is now enjoying a remarkable purple patch in front of goal despite not starting any of the Magpies’ last four games.

He has come off the bench and scored in three of those fixtures. Those strikes included dramatic late equalisers against Spurs and Liverpool, as well as the winner against West Ham.

Willock certainly looks to be doing all he can to send a message to Arteta. And Ferdinand implored the Arsenal boss to bring him back into the fold upon his return from the Emirates.

“I like Joe Willock, he’s someone at Arsenal I would’ve kept,” he told his YouTube channel. “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.”

In fairness to Arsenal, loaning him out looks to be a smart move. Willock was struggling for minutes with the Gunners.

You could argue he should have played more, but he did not seem to make the most of any opportunities that did come his way.

And he looks set to come back to North London with more confidence. Where Arsenal may make a potential mistake however, is considering selling him permanently.

The Daily Mirror reported on Monday that Newcastle want to keep the youngster beyond this season, and Arsenal would let him go for £20 million.

If Willock’s form is a sign of what is to come from him, that sort of fee would prove to be a real bargain.