There have been various points over the past couple of seasons when it appeared that Jordi Osei-Tutu was close to making a breakthrough into the Arsenal first-team.

Now, however, the defender finds himself in a difficult predicament owing to a lack of game time at his loan club, VfL Bochum.

Osei-Tutu started the season well enough and, despite usually being a right-back, was used in a more advanced position on the right flank on some occasions, even scoring a goal against Wehen Wiesbaden.

He has, though, been an unused substitute in each of Bochum’s last four league games, leading to concerns that this loan spell might not prove as beneficial for his development as had been hoped.

There is still time for the situation to improve, but Osei-Tutu could be forgiven for being rather concerned.

Having recently turned 21 and with no prior senior experience to his name, this is a crucial season for Osei-Tutu’s development and, perhaps, his last chance to prove that he should be part of the first-team squad at Arsenal.

Osei-Tutu has consistently impressed for Arsenal at youth level – he is diligent defensively and poses a threat going forward.

Despite those qualities, he has barely had a look in for Unai Emery’s side and the current situation regarding his loan spell in the second tier of German football will do little to change that.

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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird