Arsenal defender Cohen Bramall has revealed why he chose to join Birmingham City on loan this season and what he’s looking to achieve under Harry Redknapp.

The 21-year-old joined Birmingham on a season-long loan yesterday despite some at Arsenal being sceptical about the move. In an interview with Birmingham Mail, Bramall admitted that he pushed to make the deal happen.

“The majority of them said it would be a great move for me and my development,” he said. “A few people down at Arsenal thought it might be better if I went out in January but I wanted a season-long loan.

“I can see what Harry wanted and I spoke to him on the phone and I said: ‘If I’m going to come, I need to play’, and he said I will.”

Bramall made his first appearances for Arsenal during pre-season and has since been promoted to the first-team squad. With little to no experience of football at the top level, it seems more important for Bramall to go out and play somewhere than to play U23 football for half a season.

Birmingham are currently rebuilding after a disappointing season where they narrowly escaped relegation by two points. Harry Redknapp is now in charge, which, in my opinion, means Bramall probably won’t learn much tactically while out loan, but will at least have the opportunity to run around a lot.

While promotion seems a bit unrealistic at this stage, it’s the goal that Bramall has set for himself. “Getting promoted,” he said, when asked what would make his loan successful.

“You can train as best you want but if you can get the win and three points, that’s what I’m aiming to do with the boss. I hate losing, it’s one of the worst things. I hate losing. I’m a winner.”

Bramall, along with fellow Arsenal loanee Carl Jenkinson, could make his debut for Birmingham against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup tonight.