Football
Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent 7y

Arsenal loan Ismael Bennacer to Tours and Stephy Mavididi to Charlton

Arsenal midfielder Ismael Bennacer has been sent on loan to Ligue 2 side Tours, the former club of Gunners teammates Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny, in one of a number of moves for Arsenal youngsters.

After striker Chuba Akpom joined Championship leaders Brighton on Monday, U.S. youth international Gedion Zelalem completed a move to Dutch side VVV Venlo a day later.

Meanwhile, promising striker Stephy Mavididi joined League One club Charlton and Kaylen Hinds went to League Two side Stevenage.

Bennacer, 19, will spend the rest of the season at Tours, the French club announced on Twitter.

The midfielder, who recently returned from the African Nations Cup after being called up by Algeria as a late replacement, was pictured taking part in his first training session with the team on Tuesday.

Bennacer, who was born in France, follows in the footsteps of Giroud and Koscielny, who both spent a couple of seasons at Tours early in their careers. Giroud played there between 2008 and 2010 before joining Montpellier, while Koscielny was at the club between 2007 and 2009.

Mavididi, 18, is considered one of the most promising forwards in Arsenal's academy and has scored six goals in seven games for the club's youth teams this season. He was on the bench for two EFL Cup games but has yet to make an appearance for Arsene Wenger's side, and this will be his first chance to play senior football.

He was the top scorer for Arsenal's under-21s last season with 17 goals in 30 games and helped the team gain promotion by netting twice in a playoff victory over Aston Villa.

Hinds, 19, scored once in three appearances for Arsenal's under-23 this season and signed a new contract with the Gunners before sealing his loan to Stevenage.

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