Joe Willock spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Newcastle United from Arsenal, paving the way for a permanent £25 million move the following summer.
Joe Willock will arrive at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night with respect for his former club and few regrets about leaving them.
The 24-year-old worked his way up through the ranks in north London, joining their academy in 2014 and earning his first senior contract three years later. A breakout 2019/20 season in which he made 44 club appearances and won the FA Cup seemed to solidify the notion that Arsenal’s next young star was on the rise.
However, the following campaign was a flop. After falling out of favor under Mikel Arteta and making only two Premier League starts by January, a new opportunity arose. And the England under-23 international didn’t hesitate.
While Steve Bruce’s reign was widely regarded as underwhelming by the Toon Army, his role in reviving the form of Willock may have gone unnoticed. The midfielder would play regularly for Newcastle for the rest of the season, and he quickly made an impression in black and white.
And it was Willock’s comments at the season’s end that strongly implied he had little intention of returning to the capital after being given a new lease on life under Bruce, telling reporters: “When I decided to come here I had a sense of peace, I didn’t ever feel like it was going to be the wrong one (decision). When I came here, everyone was so welcoming.”
When asked if he planned to return to Arsenal at the end of his loan spell, the youngster was hesitant: “I’m here to prove to Newcastle United that I can play every week and affect the games and win games for them,” he added. “I’m not really looking at Arsenal when that time comes for me to make a decision to go back or not that will come but right now, I’m focused on Newcastle and I’m loving every minute that I’m here.”
A subsequent £25 million move that summer effectively extended that time. It’s no surprise, given that he finished his loan spell by scoring in six consecutive games, tying Alan Shearer’s record.
If there was any doubt that Willock was viewed as a long-term investment in the north-east, the awarding of a six-year contract was it. And the first two years of that contract resulted in 74 more games for the club, not to mention Champions League game time this season.
It is possible to conclude that Willock’s departure from Arsenal was beneficial to both parties. As a former young player at his former club, he is unlikely to face much hostility should he take the field tonight. But there will be no desire to return to the environment that launched his career.
Leave a Reply