Arsenal’s Wellington Silva joins Bolton on loan
Wellington Silva, the 22-year-old Brazilian that has yet to feature for the senior Arsenal team, has secured a season-long loan to Championship side Bolton.  Silva will be available for team selection ahead of this weekend’s round of matches. Bolton manager Neil Lennon confirmed the signing of the Arsenal winger following […]

Wellington Silva, the 22-year-old Brazilian that has yet to feature for the senior Arsenal team, has secured a season-long loan to Championship side Bolton.  Silva will be available for team selection ahead of this weekend’s round of matches.

Bolton manager Neil Lennon confirmed the signing of the Arsenal winger following their 1-0 defeat at MK Dons.  “Silva should have been playing tonight but we missed the registration time by three minutes,” Lennon told BBC Radio Manchester.  “He would have made a big difference to the way we wanted to play, so he will definitely come into contention on Saturday.  We think he is a good player and will make us better.”

Silva has endured a tough five-and-a-half years since a fee was agreed between Arsenal and Brazilian club Fluminense for the player’s signature in 2009.  The deal was delayed until the following year due to Silva’s age and then there were issues with a work permit.  The FA, who originally sanctioned a work permit, backtracked on their decision and the Gunners were forced to loan Silva until the matter was resolved.

It was not until April of 2015 that Silva was issued a Spanish passport, which allowed him to work in the United Kingdom.  Although he finally received the passport, Silva was in the middle of a loan spell at La Liga side Almeria.  The Brazilian made 35 total appearances for the Spanish club during the 2014-15 season, recording seven assists (six in league play).

Despite the frustrations over the work permit, Silva reportedly agreed to a new long-term contract with Arsenal before making the loan switch to Bolton.  The Wanderers will be the sixth club that Silva has gone on loan to since 2010.  Silva is the 12th Arsenal player to currently be loaned out since the beginning of the summer (assuming Gedion Zelalem’s preposed temporary move to Rangers goes through).