Gunners youngster could move on

2:08pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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ARSENAL left-back Armand Traore may move to Portsmouth on-loan next season.

Arsene Wenger has experimented with the young Frenchman on the left-wing to great effect in the last few matches, and it is thought that he is willing to let him go to Pompey under the premise that he gets the chance to master the role under boss Harry Redknapp.

Traore, 18, has been Gael Clichy's understudy for much of the season, earning a run in the team during the team's Carling Cup campaign and in the team's final league games of the season.

The youngster joined Arsenal from French side Monaco at just 16 and has matured under Wenger's tutelage to the stage where the French coach is keen for his protégé to gain some valuable first-team experience.

Norwich City and Cardiff City have also been linked with the full-back but the lure of top flight football is likely to see Traore move to the south coast.

The move would mean another of the Gunners' youngsters, Pedro Botelho will act as Clichy's deputy, with Justin Hoyte providing further cover.