Marquinhos set for debut after signing as Arsenal look to continue loan strategy

Arsenal's recent dealings with Ligue 1 clubs, particularly in the loan market bode well for Marquinhos who has joined Nantes for the 2023/24 season

It's official, Arsenal winger Marquinhos has joined Nantes on a season-long loan deal.

Details of the agreement have surfaced on the Ligue1 outfit's website with it being a dry loan and the 20-year-old handed the number ten shirt: "FC Nantes and Arsenal have reached an agreement for the loan - without option to buy - of Marquinhos for the 2023-2024 season, "a statement reads.

Signed in time to be registered for Nantes' opening Ligue 1 game of the campaign, Marquinhos is in line to make his debut this afternoon (Sunday) having been named on the substitutes bench - alongside former Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko - for the visit of Toulouse.

Whether he gets any minutes or not, this loan move should benefit the Brazilian as despite a positive start to his Arsenal career following a £3million transfer from Sao Paulo last summer - highlighted by a goal and assist against FC Zurich - he endured 'a slightly disappointing night' against FK Bodo/Glimt a few weeks later and subsequently saw his game time reduced either side of the World Cup break.

He then joined Norwich City on loan for the remainder of last season, but aside from a goal and an assist on his debut for the Championship outfit the spell was largely forgettable and has returned to his parent club in the knowledge that he is likely to find regular game time even harder to come by in the new campaign.

As mentioned above, a move to Nantes should be beneficial for the youngster's development as a familiar trend has emerged with the north London outfit in recent transfer windows with several first-team players joining Ligue 1 clubs on loan and going on to enjoy a large degree of success.

The standout name is, of course, William Saliba as it's safe to say spells with Nice and certainly Marseille have helped shape him into the central defender he is today and though Nuno Tavares and Nicolas Pepe didn't have the best of times in France last season, things did start well before petering out for one reason or another.

And then there's Matteo Guendouzi who earned Arsenal a nice £9.4million windfall after joining Marseille permanently 12 months ago following an impressive loan stint.

There's something about regular first-team football in Ligue 1 that brings out the best in Arsenal players and while he has some big footsteps to follow, perhaps Marquinhos will be the next to reap the benefits of this blueprint to either force his way into Arteta's plans for the 2024/25 campaign or put the Gunners in a position to make a profit on his £3million transfer fee next summer.