Arsenal striker Austin Lipman has enjoyed an impressive start to the season, with the young professional scoring three goals and delivering some stellar performances over the past few weeks, but, in search of further game time, he has joined Conference South side Boreham Wood on loan until January.

Lipman scored a brace in the destruction of Napoli in the UEFA Youth League at Boreham Wood’s Meadow Park recently, which alerted their manager Ian Allinson to the youngster’s capabilities, whilst he also struck a stunning goal to help Arsenal U21s beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium.

The England U17 international rose through the club’s Hale End Academy and has made over 30 appearances for the club at U18 level since making his debut late in the 2010/11 season.

Lipman’s temporary departure was accelerated by the news that his fellow forward Benik Afobe has returned to full training following a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Now 20, Afobe has spent time with Huddersfield Town, Reading, Bolton Wanderers and Millwall on loan, but, owing to those spells and his bad luck with injuries, he has yet to make a competitive appearance for the Arsenal first-team.

With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, and the likes of Yaya Sanogo and Chuba Akpom pushing for increased first-team involvement, Afobe will have to make a significant impact in the remaining months of the campaign if he is to be granted an extended stay at Emirates Stadium.