It was a mixed set of results for Arsenal’s loanees across Europe on Friday and Saturday’s round of fixtures.
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We covered Kelechi Nwakali’s performance against Den Bosch, where he scored but was on the losing side. Stefan O’Connor‘s future at Arsenal seems all but over. The centre-back was once again not involved in MVV Maastricht’s matchday squad altogether.
Elsewhere on Friday…
Ismael Bennacer started and played 82 minutes during Tours’ 1-1 draw with Brest.
Gedion Zelalem was an unused substitute during VVV-Venlo’s 3-2 win over Almere City.
Chuba Akpom was an unused substitute during Brighton’s 2-1 win over QPR. The striker’s loan spell has been disappointing, especially given how encouraging he was during our pre-season tour of the Americas.
Saturday’s round of fixtures:
ENGLAND
Jack Wilshere completed the full 90 minutes during Bournemouth’s 3-1 defeat against Chelsea. It was a decent but unspectacular display by the Englishman, who had to defend for sustained periods and wasn’t given enough opportunity to create.
His match statistics (source: WhoScored):
– Two key passes, 87.2% pass accuracy and 89 touches
– Two completed dribbles, fouled twice and two unsuccessful touches
– One tackle, two interceptions and seven accurate long balls
Calum Chambers (foot) is still sidelined and didn’t feature against Burnley during Middlesbrough’s goalless draw.
Despite a 2-1 home defeat against Derby, Krystian Bielik won the MOTM award for his defensive display.
On social media after the result, Bielik had this to say: “Big sorry to all fans. We and you did not deserve for lose game today. Happy to get my first man of the match in championship.”
He received messages of support from team-mates within the club’s u23 side, including Reiss Nelson and Chris Willock.
Marc Bola was a second-half substitute during Notts County’s 2-1 win over Carlisle United. He came on for the final ten minutes, making his return to action after a hamstring injury.
Kaylen Hinds came off the bench for Stevenage shortly after the hour mark, but was unable to help overturn a 4-0 deficit during their disappointing away defeat against Colchester United. He was recently the subject of praise from his manager for his attitude.
SPAIN
Fullback Julio Pleguezuelo was once again not involved during Mallorca’s goalless draw against Gimnastic.
PORTUGAL
Sporting CP were 4-0 winners over Boavista. Joel Campbell made a cameo appearance off the substitutes’ bench but didn’t have much time to assert himself on the match itself.
NETHERLANDS
Daniel Crowley scored Go Ahead Eagles’ only goal in a 4-1 home defeat against Heracles. Despite the poor collective performance, it was a standout display by the young Englishman.
And quite the finish…
Dan Crowley awesome goal. Dan Crowley masih dalam masa peminjaman pic.twitter.com/sthxIpVmN7
— Gooner Area (@GoonerArea) April 8, 2017
His match statistics (source: WhoScored):
– Two shots, three key passes, 80.4% pass accuracy
– 85 touches (most of any GAE player), nine completed dribbles, fouled once
– Seven completed tackles, one foul committed
Despite the defeat, performances like these from Crowley are impressive to say the least.
Go Ahead Eagles are struggling in the Eredivisie and seem destined for relegation, but it’s likely that his displays will earn him better opportunities elsewhere next term if he’s unable to make an Arsenal breakthrough.