Arsenal defender Marc Bola has joined League One side Bristol Rovers on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old left-back, a product of the Gunners’ Hale End academy, will be looking to build upon the experience he gained while with Notts County in League Two last season, where he made 13 appearances and impressed.

Bola was named on the bench for the Arsenal first-team in the League Cup fixtures against Reading and Southampton last season.

However, his chances of becoming more involved with the senior squad this campaign were limited by the development of Cohen Bramall, who has fared well since arriving at the club in January and is currently with the first-team on their pre-season tour of Australia.

Bola’s temporary departure means that Bramall will be the first-choice left-back for Arsenal at U23 level this season.

On the occasions that Bramall is unavailable due to first-team commitments or injury, Tolaji Bola, who is of no relation to Marc, will step in.

Several other youngsters are likely to go out on loan before the transfer window closes at the end of next month, with Krystian Bielik, Ismael Bennacer, Savvas Mourgos, Tafari Moore, Julio Pleguezuelo and Aaron Eyoma all candidates for spells elsewhere.