Fran Merida has followed in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas - joining Arsenal from Barcelona with a big reputation and even bigger expectations.
He is eventually expected to emulate the achievements of Fabregas, but not just yet.
Fabregas made his Arsenal first team debut as a 16-year old in the Carling Cup, while for Merida the start of his Gunners career has been more low-key - and now he is heading to Spain for a six-month loan spell in the country's second division.
But Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has reassured the club's fans that they have not seen the last of the 17-year-old playmaker.
Wenger is convinced Merida can make a big impact at Arsenal.
“He is a great player,” Wenger told the club's official website.
“He has a good opportunity to play there and he should be at Sociedad for six months.
“At the moment we play the young players so quickly in the reserve team – at 16 or 17 – that at 18 and 19 there is sometimes no challenge for them anymore.
“It is still a little bit too early for them to play in the first team so there is a little gap period.
“One of the solutions is to get them into clubs where they can get first-team experience.”
Merida has currently made three substitute appearances for the Arsenal first team.
He is eventually expected to emulate the achievements of Fabregas, but not just yet.
Fabregas made his Arsenal first team debut as a 16-year old in the Carling Cup, while for Merida the start of his Gunners career has been more low-key - and now he is heading to Spain for a six-month loan spell in the country's second division.
But Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has reassured the club's fans that they have not seen the last of the 17-year-old playmaker.
Wenger is convinced Merida can make a big impact at Arsenal.
“He is a great player,” Wenger told the club's official website.
“He has a good opportunity to play there and he should be at Sociedad for six months.
“At the moment we play the young players so quickly in the reserve team – at 16 or 17 – that at 18 and 19 there is sometimes no challenge for them anymore.
“It is still a little bit too early for them to play in the first team so there is a little gap period.
“One of the solutions is to get them into clubs where they can get first-team experience.”
Merida has currently made three substitute appearances for the Arsenal first team.
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