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Backed by Wenger, forgotten signing Krystian Bielik looks unlikely to have Arsenal future

Mathew Nash

Mon 10 December 2018 7:45, UK

In January 2015 Arsenal snapped up the Polish youngster Krystian Bielik. that Arsenal splashed out £2.5 million on the holding midfielder. He arrived at the club from Legia Warsaw and was highly rated by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman stated when first signing the player, that Bielik would

Speaking in late 2016, the former Arsenal boss insisted that Bielik had the opportunity to become a ‘great player.’

So, is he on course?

The short answer, unfortunately, is no.

“He has developed very well and for me he has all the attributes to be a great player.”

Wenger is gone and in the summer the Pole was sent out on another loan deal. He had previously been at Birmingham City, where Gianfranco Zola’s sacking saw him lose his place in the first team. In January, he headed to Walsall, where he failed to play a single game because of a recurring shoulder injury. This summer, he headed to Charlton Athletic.

It has not been an exceptional campaign at The Valley. Whilst he has not been bad for the Addicks, it has been inconsistent and hardly the form of a player Wenger hoped would become a star.

Injury has certainly played its role but it seems Bielik will now be a forgotten talent from the Arsene Wenger era.

Arsenal are currently in a defensive crisis. Once upon a time, Wenger solved a similar midfield problem by recalling Francis Coquelin from Charlton, in a move that practically saved the Frenchman’s career. It is hard to see lightning striking twice to Bielik’s benefit.