After joining Rangers on loan until January, Gedion Zelalem has spoken about his decision to join the Scottish Championship side.

The 18-year-old previously spoke about what he wants to achieve at Rangers and now he’s explained his decision to join them, citing Arsene Wenger and Steve Bould as the main influences for the move.

Speaking recently, the midfielder said, “I spoke to Arsene Wenger and Steve Bould and they thought it was a great opportunity, especially for my first loan. They left the final decision to me but had nothing but great things to say about the club and the manager. They said he believes in young players and the style of football was a major factor.”

The American mentioned young teammate Jon Toral as another factor in his decision.

“Jon Toral also went on loan from Arsenal to Brentford and had great things to say about Mark Warburton,” Zelalem said. “I was convinced this was the place to be. I’ll get on the ball a lot because we’ll have a lot of possession.”

Toral played 37 matches while at the Championship team, scoring seven goals and assisting two. If Zelalem can get even close that amount for Rangers, the youngster will gain invaluable experience.

At this early stage in his career, goals and assists aren’t necessarily important. They may be encouraging but the main aim of loan moves is to get match time, not score 20 goals a season.

The midfielder previously explained how one of the reasons he wanted to join the Scottish side for six months, which he’s open to extending, is because of the style of football they play. However, more importantly, the intense league will test him physically in order for him to return to us stronger than ever.