Amongst the numerous Arsenal players out on loan at the moment, one of the more impressive has been Spanish midfielder and former Barcelona academy graduate Jon Toral, who has spent the season in the Championship with Birmingham City.
Capable of playing either as an attacking midfielder or on either flank, Toral’s path from La Masia graduate to Birmingham regular hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
Signed by Arsenal in the summer of 2011 from Barcelona for a reported fee of £300,000 as part of the deal that brought Hector Bellerin to the Emirates, his time in London didn’t get off to the best start. Barcelona president at the time Sandro Rosell labelled the deal “a little immoral,” and then during his last game with Barcelona, he suffered an injury to his right knee that kept him out for several months and delayed his debut for his new club. However, this was not the end of his injury problems. Three more knee operations followed over the next couple of years as he attempted to find consistent football in the under-21’s, leaving Toral’s career hanging by a thread.
Once he did manage to overcome his knee problems, he went out on loan to Championship side Brentford for the 2014/15 season. While not always a first team regular there, he did manage to accrue a total of 37 appearances (though many off the bench) and six goals as Brentford reached the play-offs. The undoubted highlight of his season was a hat-trick against Blackpool in a 4-0 home win.
YouTube: Jon Toral scores a hat-trick in Brentford’s 4-0 win over Blackpool
YouTube: STUNNING STRIKE | Jon Toral scores a sensational volley v Ipswich Town
