View: Arjan Raikhy is ready for summer loan move after Aston Villa academy form
Arjan Raikhy has proven himself to be a cut above his Aston Villa Under-23s counterparts time and time again this season, and should be rewarded with a loan spell away from the club in the summer.
The 20-year-old midfielder was on target for the Young Lions once again on Friday night (24 February) as he netted a sublime free-kick in the 6-4 win over Sunderland at Bodymoor Heath.
His assured performance on the left side of midfield was yet another sign that he no longer belongs in the academy ranks and really should be plying his trade in the football league once more. Throughout the ten-goal thriller, the youngster dictated the tempo of play in midfield with his passing ability in tight pockets of space, even when being heavily pressed by several Black Cats players.
His rangy-looking exterior doesn’t do justice to the strength he possesses with the ball at his feet in the middle of the park, with the former Grimsby Town loanee able to use his height to shrug off challenges with apparent ease.
Despite failing to gain sufficient game time in separate loan spells to Stockport County and the Mariners last season, Villa must persist with this strategy and look to find a suitable loan suitor in the summer.
At 19 years of age last year, it is questionable whether the duo of loan moves was a season too early for Raikhy – but now with more experience under his belt, he is ready for the step up in quality.
Alongside his form for the academy side, the 20-year-old was also given a run of minutes for the first team by Unai Emery in the mid-season trip to Dubai during the World Cup. After starting on the bench against Brighton, Raikhy came on in the second half and played a crucial hand in Danny Ings’ well-worked goal in the 2-2 draw.
The academy product evidently left a strong impression on Emery that day, with the Spaniard siding with Raikhy on the left side of his midfield four against Chelsea a few days later and ensuring he has been training with the first-team at points since the New Year.
Now a more mature and experienced player, Raikhy is ready to enhance his development with a loan move to either League One or the Championship at the end of the season.
In other Aston Villa news, this academy player could be the next star in waiting at Bodymoor Heath after back-to-back goals for the Under-23s.