Arsene Wenger has admitted that Gedion Zelalem still has work to do on his physique ahead of the new season with questions being asked about where the American will be playing next season.

Sent on loan to Glasgow with Rangers last season, Zelalem endured a mixed bag that started out well but fell away in the latter half of the campaign.

That is probably not surprising given the step up from u21s to Scottish First Division football and certainly shouldn’t be taken as any inability to ‘hack it’.

Speaking ahead of their first game in the States, Wenger said about Gedion, “Last season he was on loan at Glasgow Rangers, where he did quite well. He is a player with top quality.

“He might take a bit longer to mature because he was physically a little bit behind on body structure but I’m sure he will be a great player.

“He [matured a bit slowly] physically but overall I’m convinced that he will make a great career. Will he play? Certainly a part of the game as well.”

A League Two loan might be the next sensible option for the midfielder, League One if Arsenal feel he would not be too overwhelmed with that step up.

To develop and strengthen, he needs to play, and the only way that is going to happen at a level that will benefit him, and Arsenal, is if he spends another year away from the club.