Catalin Cirjan provided an assist in his second appearance for FC Rapid on Sunday, helping his loan team to their first win of the season.

Just under a month ago, Arsenal youngster Catalin Cirjan finalised a loan move to Rapid Bucuresti for the 2023/24 campaign, with an option to buy at the end of the season.

The move was Arsenal’s first loan of the summer, and it makes sense that Rapid would be keen to get the deal done quickly ahead of their season start date on July 14th.

Other Arsenal academy players will probably head out on loans in the next couple of weeks, as the English lower leagues resume match action in early August.

But with the Romanian league kicking off earlier, Cirjan is already well underway on his loan spell.

Cirjan performed well on his competitive debut against Sepsi OSK, hitting the bar and seeing a shot cleared off the line, but neither side could break the deadlock on that occasion.

The 20-year-old got another chance to impress against FC Universitatea Cluj at the weekend, and he made it count with a first-half assist for Rapid.

Cirjan’s initial corner was cleared back to him, and he spotted a free man on the edge of the box. The Arsenal loanee drove a low pass to Marko Dugandzic, who finished via a deflection.

You can watch the assist here or below from the timestamp 2:19.

Cirjan was involved in further chances in the second half, almost rounding the goalkeeper on one occasion and creating a great opportunity with a through ball on another.

Rapid went on to score twice more in the final 30 minutes, and Cirjan was substituted in injury time. The match finished 3-0.

Rapid sit fourth in the Romanian SuperLiga after two games, and they face FC Botosani next.