This season Last Word on Sports will be keeping you up to date on the Arsenal players out on loan, as they continue to develop their skills and prove they are ready to compete for a place in the Arsenal side.
Last week, Dan Crowley’s loan was terminated by Barnsley, who sent the player back to Arsenal. This means there are currently eleven players out on loan from Arsenal. Rumours of Serge Gnabry’s loan also being cut short could see that number soon reduced to ten.
The players away on loan are:
- Wojciech Szczesny (GK), on loan to AS Roma in Serie A
- Carl Jenkinson (RB), on loan to West Ham United in the Premier League
- Yaya Sanogo (ST), on loan to Ajax in the Eredivisie
- Serge Gnabry (MID), on loan to West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League
- Ainsley Maitland-Niles (MID), on loan to Ipswich Town in the Championship
- Isaac Hayden (CB/MID), on loan to Hull City in the Championship
- Chuba Akpom (ST), on loan to Hull City in the Championship
- Jon Toral (MID), on loan to Birmingham City in the Championship
- Emiliano Martinez (GK), on loan to Wolves in the Championship
- Wellington Silva (MID), on loan to Bolton in the Championship
- Gedion Zelalem (MID), on loan to Rangers in the Scottish Championship
Much of the focus of discussion around Arsenal loanees this past week surrounded early termination of loans. With Crowley’s loan cut short, talk of Gnabry being recalled, and the current injury crisis facing the first team, much of the talk centered on which loan player could help the first team at the moment. While Arsene Wenger rejected the idea of a recall to provide depth in the current situation, the talk persisted nevertheless. On the field, a clean sheet for Emiliano Martinez was the highlight of the week, with Chuba Akpom’s assist providing another moment of quality.
Wojciech Szczesny started and playedthe full 90 minutes as Roma lost to Inter Milan. A second half red card to Miralem Pjanic ended any chance of a Roma comeback in the second half. Szczesny made two saves in a match Roma may have felt they should have won. Roma out-shot Inter 19-10, including 9-3 in shots on target, and dominated possession, holding a 59-41 advantage. Inter’s goal came from Gary Medel who struck from distance to beat Szczesny with a well placed shot to the bottom corner.
Carl Jenkinson started and completed the full 90 as West Ham suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Watford. Jenkinson was not directly at fault for either of Watford’s goals, which both came from individual errors by West Ham players. He did however, as most all of his team-mates did, put in a performance that failed to meet expectations.
Yaya Sanogo again failed to feature for Ajax.
Serge Gnabry did not play in West Brom’s 3-2 defeat to Leicester City. However, the Arsenal man did make the news, with rumours coming out of both West Brom and Arsenal that the clubs have plans to discuss cutting Gnabry’s loan short. Arsene Wenger rejected the idea that Gnabry could be recalled to help Arsenal deal with their current injury crisis, but a January return could be possible for the youngster.
Last week, West Brom boss Tony Pulis said:
Serge has come here to play games but he just hasn’t been for me, at the moment, at that level to play the games.
Pulis also mentioned Gnabry’s lack of experience in the top flight: an odd comment, given that he should have been aware of Gnabry’s experience prior to taking him on loan.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles started and played 81 minutes as Ipswich drew 1-1 with Cardiff. It was a seventh consecutive game without a win for Ipswich. Maitland-Niles put in a decent performance, both offensively and defensively, but for the most part it was a game of missed chances on both sides.
Isaac Hayden was an unused substitute for Hull City in their 2-0 win over MK Dons. Team-mate Chuba Akpom started and played 71 minutes in the win. Akpom assisted Ahmed Elmohamady’s opener, and nearly doubled Hull’s lead, forcing a save just two minutes later. Akpom started the goal move by winning the ball in midfield and passing wide to start a counter. He then won a tackle at the edge of the Hull box before playing the ball across the face of goal for Elmohamady to tap home.
Jon Toral came on as a substitute in the 67th minute for Birmingham in their 2-0 loss to Wolves. Toral did well after coming on, completing 92 percent of his passes, and forcing a block with a shot attempt in the 88th minute.
Emiliano Martinez returned to a bit of form with a clean sheet as Wolves broke a three game losing streak with a 2-0 win over Birmingham. It was a good match for Martinez, and a much needed one, after a string of below average performances. While the goalkeeper was forced into only one save, it was a nearly point blank effort that Martinez denied to preserve what was then a 1-0 lead.
Wellington Silva missed Bolton’s 0-0 draw with Preston due to injury.
Gedion Zelalem came on in the 58th minute, but was unable to be the difference-maker as Rangers fell 2-1 to Hibernian for their first loss in the Scottish Championship this season.
