Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Isaac Hayden needed to move away from the Gunners for the good of his career.
The midfielder is now 21 years of age and had a successful loan spell at Hull City in the Championship last season and Wenger told Arsenal’s official website that he believed Hayden would have wasted his career if he stayed at the London club any longer:
“He couldn’t get the chance here and I decided to let him go and have an opportunity. At 21 years of age, you need to play or you stand still – and if you stand still you waste your career.
Hayden signed a five year deal with the Magpies earlier this month. The 21 year old is equally comfortable playing at centre back but most of his senior appearances so far have been in a holding midfield role.
During his loan spell at Hull last season he made 18 appearances, all in a midfield role, starting nine games and making nine substitute appearances, scoring one goal, as he helped the Tigers back to the Premier League. He will have competition from the likes of Vurnon Anita and Jack Colback in central midfield role next season but he is an exciting young talent who former Hull boss Steve Bruce described him as “very good young player, who’s progressing all the time.”
