Traore: I don't want to go out on loan

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Arsenal defender Armand Traore has announced his desire to stick with Arsenal this season, rather than endure another year away from the Emirates Stadium on loan.

The 19-year-old spent the 2008/09 campaign on loan at Portsmouth, but made just 20 league appearances - scoring once - as the Fratton Park outfit flirted with relegation from the top-flight following the departure of manager Harry Redknapp to Tottenham Hotspur.

With first-team opportunities under Arsene Wenger again expected to be limited following the emergence of Kieran Gibbs at left-back and arrival of Andrey Arshavin on the left side of midfield, newly-promoted Birmingham City are reportedly keen on landing the French U21 international on loan.

However, Traore has revealed he is keen to fight for his place with the London giants instead.

"I haven't heard anything about that [Birmingham]. I want to stay at Arsenal this season. I don't really want to go out on loan," he told skysports.com.

"But if Arsene Wenger does not want me here and thinks that I need go out on loan again, I will see. I would prefer to stay.

"I am feeling good. I am feeling more hungry and eager to learn.

"I will have to speak with Arsene Wenger, at the moment I am just concentrating and working hard to try and be the best at training so that at some point he sees that I can push for a place."

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Gregg Davies
Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.

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