Ollie Arblaster

Oliver Luke Arblaster (born 5 May 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for  club Port Vale, on loan from  club Sheffield United.

Arblaster turned professional at Sheffield United in May 2018. He was loaned out to Bradford (Park Avenue) in October 2021. He played four games of United's 2022–23 Championship promotion-winning campaign. He was loaned out to Port Vale for the 2023–24 season.

Club career

Sheffield United
Arblaster joined the Academy at Sheffield United at the age of six. He initially wanted to be a goalkeeper, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, before accepting he would play outfield due to his relatively short stature. He turned professional at the club in May 2018. On 22 October 2021, he joined Bradford (Park Avenue) on a youth-loan until 3 January, alongside Nickseon Gomis. He made his senior debut later that day in a 5–1 defeat at Kidderminster Harriers. He impressed manager Mark Bower and retained his starting place for a total of five matches at the Horsfall Stadium. He was recalled to Bramall Lane by Sheffield United on 3 December. He was twice named in United's matchday squads in the 2021–22 season.

He made his debut for Sheffield United in an EFL Cup match as the Blades lost 1–0 at West Bromwich Albion on 11 August 2022. He made his Championship debut on 4 September, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 win at Hull City. He made his first league start on 12 November, playing the first half of 1–0 win at Cardiff City. He played no further part in the 2022–23 promotion-winning season, though was deemed too useful to loan out as the club management feared a possible injury crisis could develop.

On 17 July 2023, Arblaster signed for League One club Port Vale on a season-long loan deal, becoming manager Andy Crosby's tenth signing of the summer. David Flitcroft, the club's director of football, said that "he is a player that has great potential ahead of him we would like like to thank Paul Heckingbottom of Sheffield United for entrusting us with the further development of him". He made an immediate impact to the 2023–24 season, being named as the club's Player of the Month as he "played a key role in the engine room of a Port Vale side that accumulated 10 points throughout August". He scored his first goal in the English Football League at Vale Park on 19 September, when he fired in a late consolation during a 3–2 defeat to Burton Albion.

International career
In November 2021, Arblaster was called up to the England under-18 squad by head coach Neil Ryan for the Pinatar Tournament in Spain, featuring against Belgium. He scored the winning goal in a 3–2 victory over Austria on 7 June 2022. He was called up to the England under-20 squad for the first time in August 2023. In October 2023, he was called up to the England U-20 side for matches against Portugal U-20 and Romania U-20. He made his U20 debut on 12 October 2023 during a 2–0 away defeat to Romania.

Style of play
Arblaster is a technically gifted midfielder with an eye for goal. Coach Jack Lester said that he had a "brilliant footballing brain".

Career statistics

Honours
Sheffield United
EFL Championship second-place promotion: 2022–23

References

2004 births
Living people
English men's footballers
Footballers from Sheffield
Men's association football midfielders
Sheffield United F.C. players
Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C. players
Port Vale F.C. players
National League (English football) players
English Football League players