<<Print>>

Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong is on the verge of joining French side St. Etienne on a loan deal this month. The defensive midfielder�s name has been thrown around in the French media as a potential loan target for Saint-Etienne, A loan deal for Frimpong may be what is needed by all parties. Frimpong is known for being aggressive in the tackle and having a motor that never quits. He has impressed at times throughout his young career, but he has found himself on the outside looking in on Arsenal�s stacked midfield. The talented midfielder has overcome two knee injuries that have robbed him of much-needed development time. A loan to Saint-Etienne from Arsenal would give Arsene Wenger the opportunity to see if he fits into Arsenal�s future plans. For Saint-Etienne, Frimpong would give them a talented ball winner in the midfield. He is a player whose defensive skill set can help ASSE stay in position for a second-straight European spot. Frimpong�s physical play fits right into the Ligue 1 style. He does not possess the high-end passing or technical ability associated with most Arsenal players, but he is efficient and did not seem out of depth when playing in the Premier League. For Frimpong, a loan deal to ASSE would give him the opportunity to audition for his future at Arsenal. Even if Wenger decides Frimpong is no longer in his plans, a stint at Saint-Etienne could turn into a long-term deal, or see another team swoop in for his services. In the end, this is a loan deal that would make sense for all parties involved. Frimpong has the ability to be a very solid defensive midfielder. He just needs the opportunity.