Hibs loanee Harry Clarke 'not anticipating Arsenal return' despite managerial uncertainty

Speaking ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Dundee for the club’s penultimate game of the Scottish Premiership season, Clarke insisted he was looking forward to spending next season in the Capital while acknowledging the two break clauses in his contract that allow the Gunners to recall him this summer, or during the next winter transfer window.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’m here till the end of next season, and I’m looking forward to that. There’s nothing else.

"We have still got two games left of this season so I’m not really looking into it as much. There are break clauses in summer and and January, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m here for another 12 months.”

The 21-year-old is in regular contact with his parent club who are keeping a close eye on his progress in Edinburgh, and he credits former Arsenal defender and, until last year, Under-23s coach Steve Bould with prepping him for making the most of loan spells as he aims for the top in London with a series of loans away from the English capital.

“I speak to the loan manager Ben Knapper regularly and also the strength and conditioning coach, I speak to them and they look at all my data. We talk through games and that sort of thing,” he explained.

"Steve was my 23s manager two years ago, he had a big influence on me. He changed my game and changed the way I looked at the game and was really helpful.

“That was a year before I went on loan. He prepared me and gave me the tools I needed moving away from home, things like that. Mentally, more than game stuff.

"In my first loan I went to Oldham, which is still four hours away from home, but Inverness is three days away! Edinburgh is slightly closer to home, I miss my family but that’s part of the job. I don’t mind being