Welcome to Young Guns reports on Arsenal’s Loanees from this weekend, both Mark Randall and Jay Simpson played there final games for the Loan clubs, and both players will return to the club for training on Monday morning.
This weekend also saw the return of Pedro Botelho from injury, Fran Merida Perez and Carlos Vela were also in action. See how they all got on below.
You can read more about how loaning works, as well as catch up on any reports you may have missed in our Loanee’s Section
Carlos Vela – Osasuna 1-2 Real Madrid
Carlos Vela was in action this evening as relegation threatened Osasuna hosted League leaders Real Madrid, knowing that three points for either side would be vital at different ends of the table.
Three points for Osasuna would all but see them safe, but if the points went to Madrid they would be crowned Champions with three games left. Despite being favourites Real were not guaranteed the points as Vela’s team have been excellent at home this term, and the fans at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra would make for a hostile atmosphere.
Osasuna had started all there fixtures this term in an attacking manner. That trend continued even against Madrid, and after some early possession Plasil and Vela worked early chances.
Then the ball came to Javier Portillo on the edge of the box as he took a touch Cannavaro came flying in with a late and dangerous tackle, and the world cup winner collected the first booking of the encounter. Monreal’s free kick hit the wall and Plasil drilled the re bound wide.
Vela was then involved again, he played a neat 1-2 with Monreal before racing inside, riding the tackle of Diarra before running too far and Pepe slide tackled the ball away. After Diarra’s 25 yard pile driver was tipped over by Ricardo, Vela would be involved again.
After twisted and turning Pepe he dragged a low shot straight at Casillas, to the disappointment of Portillo who wanted the ball played across the box. Osasuna had frustrated Madrid in the early periods, and after the visitors had played a delightful passing move, Monreal won it back and fed Vela.
The Mexican burst past Ramos, looked up and spotted Portillio arriving his cross had Casillas flapping, he tipped the ball only as far as Astudillo, but his overhead kick was caught by the Spanish stopper. In truth Osasuna were the better side, they were working the ball around with confidence, and always looked good value for a goal.
Following more possession Carlos had a shot blocked, which came back to Plasil he tried to float the ball to Vela again, but Cannavaro recovered to end the first half.
Half Time – Osasuna 0-0 Real Madrid
Carlos Vela led Osasuna out for the second half, and they would get a fantastic boost just 18 seconds into the half. Fabio Cannavaro was sent off after clipping Plasil’s legs away, with a stupid tackle and then in a crazy spell Portillio volleyed the home side in front, only for the referee to pull play back after a handball in the build up from Carlos Vela.
Then came bookings for Diarra, Sneijder, and Flano as Madrid became frustrated, but then out of nothing they nearly snatched a lead. Wesley Sneijder left fly from 25 yards on his weaker left foot, it had beaten Ricardo but not the cross bar, and the Dutchman watched ball rebound off Raul and away.
Vela was now playing as a left wing back as Madrid seemed to come out of there shell with only 10 men, and Osasuna tired quickly, but Vela was the bright spark and he skipped forward on the break and fed Astudillo, who was just offside. Then came the changes.
Miguel Flano > Walter Pandiani
Javier Portillo > Kike Sola
Carlos Vela then should have scored following Punal’s low free kick, the ball rolled through to Vela he stabbed at the ball but never looked like scoring under pressure from Pepe. Carlos was now playing down the middle of the 4-3-3 and was then presented with the chance to run at Miguel Torres.
After taking the ball under his control he ran at Torres who stepped forward and Vela miss controlled and the ball ran out for a thrown in. Monreal took it and sent Vela away down the flank, but the Mexican was punished for climbing on Pepe.
Plasil then broke forward following intense pressure from Madrid, and flicked Vela away but Iker Casillas came racing off his line and cleared the danger. Then came a moment that changed the game after a corner, which saw a penalty.
Plasil’s corner hit Hienze on the hand, and he should have been sent off for a second booking, but the penalty was given and Punal sent Casillas the wrong way to put his side into a deserved lead from the spot. Former Gunner Julio Baptista was then introduced and Madrid searched for an equaliser.
Osasuna could not hold on Higuains free kick near the corner flag was met by the head of Arjen Robben who floated his side level, just 5 minutes later. Then followed heart ache as Madrid snatched the win, Higuain was given too much space and he hammered the ball home to complete the comeback.
That’s how it finished so Real Madrid retain La Liga, and Osasuna slip into the relegation places, a difficult night for Vela who played the full 90 minutes. Two goals in two minutes showed the difference between top of the league and bottom.
Carlos Vela – Osasuna 1-2 Real Madrid
Verdict On Carlos Vela From This Evening
Despite having a fair bit of the ball tonight, i was not that impressed. He made around 10-15 fouls during the game which he does in nearly every fixture, and his descision making at times was dreadful. B
But he is still young and experience like this will stand him in good stead, his best moments came when being deployed down the middle, maybe that is something Arsene Wenger will look at in the future.
Fran Merida Perez – Real Sociedad 2-0 Sevilla Atlético
Fran Merida Perez was left on the bench as Real Sociedad hosted Sevilla B yesterday evening, promotion chasing Sociedad bagged the three points thanks to strikes in either half from Garitano, and Díaz de Cerio.
Merida did get some game time, after he was introduced in place of Gari on 76 minutes. After fully recovering from injury, he should start next weeks fixture.
Fran Merida Perez played 14 minutes.
Pedro Botelho – Albacete Balompié 2-1 UD Salamanca
Pedro Botelho returned from injury as UD Salamanca took on Albacete Balompié, in a relegation battle which both sided needed three points from.
It was the home team that got them, Barkero put Albacete ahead from the penalty spot, before Noguerol put through his own net on 73 minutes. However just 5 minutes later Xavi Jiménez smashed Albacete the vital win.
Pedro was an unused substitute.
Mark Randall – Crystal Palace 5-0 Burnley
Having shaken of back and flu problems, Burnley boss Owen Coyle handed Mark Randall a start for his final game on loan, as they took on play off chasing Crystal Palace.
Burnley made a nightmare start, and truth be told it continued in this way all game as Clarke Carlisle was sent off for a foul in the area. Ben Watson converted from the spot for 1-0.
Then wonder kid Victor Moses bagged a second on 10 minutes, before Tom Soares scored just before half time to make it 3-0. Second half goals from Scott Sinclar and Clinton Morrison saw the rout completed.
Mark’s comeback lasted just 45 minutes after he was withdrawn in place of Joey Gudjonssen.
Jay Simpson will report to London Shenley for training tomorrow morning, following the completion of his loan spell at League one side Millwall.
Having scored in his final home game as a Lions player, the League One Player Of The Year travelled to Swindon knowing his side were safe from relegation, and could enjoy the final game of the campaign.
Jay started wide on the right, but knew he would have the licence to get forward and assists strikers Bas Savage and Neil Harris. Millwall made the perfect start when defender Danny Senda bagged his first goal for the club, after turning home Jem Karacan’s corner.
But with half an hour gone, Swindow were handed the chance to half the deficit from 12 yards after a foul in the area. Simon Cox stepped up and converted to level the scores at 1-1, setting up an interesting and entertaining second period.
The home side would then completed the come back, as Anthony Mcnamee fired home with 40 minutes left on the clock. Lions boss Kenny Jackett then switched the side around, bringing former Gunner Ryan Smith on for Savage meaning Simpson would now be employed up front to try and rescue a point.
However it was not enough, and Millwall slumped to defeat a disappointing way for Simpson to finish his loan spell, but no doubt his 8 goals will be vital.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Okay, I think it’s time we cut to the chase. All these youngsters are fairly average aren’t they? Vela seems to play absolute gash everytime I see him play. Randall is a joke, looks like a biafron. All these lads need a good meal or protein shake and then they can hitch a ride to shenley.
Wilshere, Bendtner, Merida, maybe Barazite will be the only ones who will challenge with any vigour.
Thanks for the report on Carlos Vela and the other loanees. It’s always helpful to have the reality check that all players have an off game from time to time.
How was Mark Randall in the Burnley game?
London Colney, not Shenley.
Hopefully fans who are expecting Vela to come in and be a first team starter and world beater from the get go will get a bit of a reality check before they start with the criticism (see Walcott, Song and Bendtner examples). How many games do you think the fans will give him before all that starts?
“Despite having a fair bit of the ball tonight, i was not that impressed. He made around 10-15 fouls during the game which he does in nearly every fixture, and his descision making at times was dreadful.”
That is a poor comment because today it was very difficult with the rain at Navarra. Vela tried to keep possesion on the left hand side with Monreal, but the opponent was Real “Spanish Champions” as well as he had a good situation his teammates run in offside position. It wasn’t his best game, but it was much better as in the last games. Furthermore we should thought that he played against Sergio Ramos!! About the fouls: It was a hot atmosphere in “EL Sadar”, so i think he made it good that he tackled and not only play nice and wonderful, because it is vital for the Premiership.
I feel sorry for Osasuna because they don’t deserved it!!!
Tonight people will realise that Vela is not as good as the hype, he will need time, and i expect after 6 months and a Carling Cup run he could be ready.
Randall had little of the ball, and looked poor but he has been injured for a couple of months.
Agree with you that Vela’s decision-making and some of his youthful rashness will have to be addressed next year, but overall I wasn’t disappointed.
Remember, this is a boy who came across the Atlantic, played in the Spanish second division for a season and then parchuted into a side at Osasuna that could be headed for relegation.
At times, yes, Carlos looks impetuous…but the big thing for me that in terms of physical ability, technique, pace and so forth, he was not out of his depth against Real Madrid. Vela looked right at home in the game, just a bit over-excited.
Arsene and time will take care of what he needs to learn and the maturity of age.
Bottom line, it definitely looked to me that the kid can play.
With a little bit of time to settle in, he WILL be an impact player at Arsenal.
So what it was Real Madrid? every game at Arsenal is a big game and we need people who can transform matches.
He had a bad day this evening, descision making is the difference between three points and fuck all.
He had alot of the ball, he miscontrolled alot of runs at people. and made god knows how many stupid tackles.
I know he can be a super player, but tonight when the chips were down he was poor.
I watched the game aswell and i was very dissapointed. To be fair however all players have the odd bad game. He was outstanding in the other Real Madrid game and got man of the match. I wouldnt judge him based purely on that performance. Even Fab and Theo and Adeabayor have the odd bad game i still think he can be a great talent for us.
i did not see the game but to be fair to our new player i watched torres last season and he was always on the floor moneing to the refs and his players. the spanish league is very technnical, so when he comes to arsenal he will be around the best players in the world and the technical level of the opposition will drop. judge him when he is with us.
It was just descision making that cost him, the top players make the right choices, and Vela is not quite at that level.
But he will learn in time, but at the moment he is Carling Cup at most.
Also to be fair Sanderson i think your blogs great but the “10-15 fouls” is abit of an exaduration he did make a couple of silly fouls but the games was littered with bad tackles from both sides and Carlos wasnt that bad as he didnt even get a card.
I will look through and get the exact number for you and yeah it an exaduration, but its frustrating because it happens every game
rele? cause the other games ive seen him play i didnt c him commit fouls like he did 2day. I was quite surprised how many he did though. I just really had high hopes for this guy and your reaction to the game has kinda depressed me about how good he is
:(.
Its little kicks that cost him.
Tonight is not about having ago, its about getting real. Vela is not ready yet.
Its about saying.. Carlos you did poor tonight.. now lets correct this on the training field and sort it out.
Look at this.. Traore beat his man crossed the ball and we won the game.
Vela in exactly the same position, miss controlled and Osasuna lost the game.
You can argue the games were different, but both moments were the same.
real madrid have amazing players from robben to raul to cannavaro to baptista. you are suprised that he is fouling alot, his team is fighting relegation and if he doesn’t fight he doesn’t play.
his fighting spirit is welcomed. we are not seeing the real vela but if he fights like that then maybe he will be in the arsenal 1st team quicker than you think.
I left a comment on the last Carlos Vela article you wrote it said this “I do not believe that Vela will solve any problems which Arsenal are suffering from. On paper he is ideal, but in reality he is further from what we need than many people could imagine. Presence, directness and efficiency, that is what we need and Vela doesn’t provide that….at all.” I believe I will eventually be vindicated and this is simply a preliminary step in the realization of all Arsenal fans that the majority of great young players Wenger signs/steals are the ones from the larger teams…Barcelona, Milan and PSG [Yes I know, but they are bigger in respect to Guadalajara].
Arsenal fans get excited over way too little…I can give you a list of great young players to use as a reference point but it would shatter the frail, limitedly founded idea of Arsenal fans that we have a supreme depth of talent at our fingertips.
True True Sanderson but to be fair i remember you saying in a reserves game recently that Troares crossing was poor so you cant always be perfect. I see Vela as a better solution to our left mid den Troare. Your right though he isnt there yet but you can see glimpses like you do with Theo of how good he can be. Would you agree him and Theo are at the same development stage?
P.S. Good article and keep up the good work.
It’s kind of surprising and disappointing to read people are losing faith in him because he had a bad game tonight! I didn’t see the game but I was reading the live commentary online and his name did pop up a few times for fouls,I think was like between 5-9 times I’m not too sure. With the right coaching and right players around him Vela will excel,but just because he had a bad game tonight doesn’t mean he will never play good in life again! Look at Song last season for us he was AWFUL! Now look at what has happened this year! I won’t expect miracles from him immediately but I know with our coaching staff and players Vela will be a great addition to the squad! Just have faith…
Walcott is above him in terms of development, because he has learnt to make the right descisions whereas Vela is not.
and TH we are not losing faith, its a reality check, The boy will bounce back i am sure of it.
Its the big games that the big players take centre stage.
I agree with J.s I think Vela will be a great player but not as a quick as most fans think.
Who of the reserves players would u say is closest to being ready for the first team? Vela? Merida? or Barazite?
I completely understand your statement that he did a poor job tonight. I could tell he wasn’t doing that well when I was reading the commentary..but I was talking about couple comments here and on other websites saying stuff like “Oh he’s not that good anymore and he won’t make it at Arsenal” blah blah blah stuff like that…that had me a little annoyed because I know in due time he will become great once he works on a few things,like in the first match against Madrid although he got man of the match was a few moments in there he gave the ball away too cheaply…but that comes with more training and experience…but I agree with your assesment,it’s just that some of the stuff I was reading how he wouldn’t make it at Arsenal and sell him to a smaller club got me disappointed.
selling him? haha
He is a fantastic PROSPECT not a fantastic player, he is similar to Walcott you know the quality is there, its just use of the final ball and making the right choices.
In time it will come.
Stop nagging about the possibility of Vela being a world beater at Arsenal or not, and remember this season we had use Abu Dialby and Eboue as our winger. So unless Arsene sign up proven world class winger this summer, his addition will become nothing but a hugely positive note for Arsenal.
Today was a great day for Arsenal youngsters. Song and Traore had their best game for Arsenal so far. Song really impressed me and Traore surprised me. Armand is no left back and will never make it there with Clichy ahead of him, but he did well on the wing. It wasn’t just the assist, he was an overall threat.
Walcott had a bad day but was played on the left where he is nowhere as good. He is a striker, no question about that. He was still better than Eboue. I wonder about our striking force for next season. RvP is always injured and Eduardo out for the first months. Is Wenger going to play either Vela or Walcott up front or will he play Nicklas and Ade. They are both fantastic players but can not play together at all.
Arsene Wenger should put in a bid for Crystal Palaces Victor Moses before he gets any better because he will be a full England player by the time he is 19 years old because potentialy i think he is that good
J.S. I think you are slighty getting ahead of yourself in certain reports about the future prospects of Carlos Vela.Remember to leave the professional evaluations to the professionals, and not to let your frustations as a fan get the better of your analysis.Carlos has had one bad game,he makes wrong decisions at times and his youthfulness sometimes gets the better of him, but to suddenly doubt whether he can make it at Arsenal is taking it a tad bit too far,considering that he has not even played for us yet.Saying stuff like “its the big games that the big players take centre stage”, loses sight of the fact that he is still a young man.Not all players are like Fabregas or Rooney in terms of early development.Gerrard,Lampard,Pires etc etc were not even been mentioned as potential ‘big’ players at the same stage of their careers.Time will be a proper judge of his talents.
You do have a fantastic website and im sure a lot of fans are grateful for the info,but i do think that at times you are too harsh with your match reports
Has Jay Simpson been added to the first team squad?, I’d like to think that given the oppertunity he could become a real asset to the team a real rugged English striker come winger, do we need to worry about Vella being ready for the first team if we have Jay Simpson ready for action?
I find it hard to understand why more has not been made of the fact that this boy is ready and could do a job for us next season.
jazbo, Remember that Jay Simpson has played in League One, Vela in La Liga!
Simpson hasn’t played at the top level but he did get league 1 player of the year and is obviously adapted to English football and the country.
Next season, we’ll have Simpson (if he stays), Gibbs, Vela and Traore (if he doesn’t go on loan) as cover for the wings along with Walcott and I’m not sure if that’s enough for the PL/CL because none of them have played in the PL apart from Theo although I suppose he’ll be more ready next season if he does need to play on the wing.
With Rosicky undergoing rehabilitation hopefully he’ll stay fit and assuming Hleb stays Wenger may not buy another winger.
At this rate we need a CB and a CM most.
I watched Vela’s last few games. He’s not been great since his injury. Yeah he is making fouls but he is playing in a relegation team where he is told to get stuck in & its not his game. He has to switch alot from left wing to striker during games and after his performance against Real at the Bernebau Ramos and Pepe gave him close attention.
He will take time to find his feat at Arsenal but it might well be the season
PS half the fouls in La Liga would not be given in the premiership so we should be happy with a flair player who gets stuck in
Ronaldo was rubbish at ManU when he arrived. Decision making poor and all tricks. Two years on with good coaches and good players. He is the “best” player in the world. So give Vela a year with the best coach in the world and then judge. He gives up depth in a thin squad.
I really dont see how you can say Simpson is more ready for Arsenal than Vela. Firstly Vela has played in La Liga against some of the best players in the world. While Simpson had played in League 1. Vela has scored his first international goal and recieved a few other caps while Simpson isnt even in the Under 21 squad. Vela is far nearer making the first team than Simpson is.
Hello everyone. My point of view is that Arsenal’s future is in severe doubt. Hleb could well leave, and the most experienced cental player, Gilberto, does not even play much. I’d say that Arsenal need to sign a fourth senior central midfielder (alongside Fabregas, Flamini and Gilberto) and a winger who can play on both sides (preferably Ronaldo :P, but Sevilla’s Navas would be very good too).
Anyway, judging from J.Sanderson’s coverage of Carlos Vela’s game against Madrid, and my own viewing of that game, I do think that Vela can impress. As has been mooted already, give the guy a decent Carling Cup run and he might burst onto the scene Fabregas-style.
“Look at this.. Traore beat his man crossed the ball and we won the game.
Vela in exactly the same position, miss controlled and Osasuna lost the game.
You can argue the games were different, but both moments were the same.”
This is such a terrible argument its not even worth deconstructing.
As for Velas poor performance, I don’t see it as being indictative of anything more than just that, a poor performance. Making whole scale judgements from this one match, particularly considering the difference in quality between the 2 sides, is ridiculous. You say when the chips are down he showed he is not up to it. How then, do you explain the previous time he played Real where he made Ramos look silly all game and was man of the match? Hes young, he will be inconsistent, theres also likely to be a settling in and adjustment period when he comes over, but theres no doubt the kid has talent, lets give him a chance.
well said pete – this analysis of vela was as knee jerk as i have ever read. not dissing this blog as it is very imformative – but i fail to tke this assessment seriously – especially that parallel between traore and vela – absolute jibberish.
having said that i do agree that carlos should be given time etc – im pretty sure he’ll be a success – his loan move to osasuna was definately a succes and the teenager played his way into being a regular in a serie a side- that alone is impressive. the ironic thing is – based on this mediocre performance against the best team in that league you seemingly forget all that he has achieved this season – the international caps/goal as well as performances.
the final nail in the coffin of this debate is when sanderson claimed that theo has learnt to make the right decisions? i think 99% of people who have seen theo would agree that that statement is bs.. having said that carlos’ decision making at times left a little to be desired for – he isnt anywhere as bad as theo in those stakes
nb – apologies for the typo – i mean la liga as opposed to seie a! damn flamini wont get outta my head!
Its typical that people think the sun shines out of our young players arses.
Walcott did not use the ball effectivly, but now he has, Vela needs to learn that.
All i said was that it was a poor performance, and he needs to learn some things,
Anyone remember Henry and Bergkamp playing in Italy? When they came there former clubs breathed a sigh of relief wonderin how they had been able to make money of them and were probably laughing at stupid Arsenal. Whose the fool now. Probably the best players of there generation performed poorlly b4 they came here, before they came home. Welcome this kid when he comes. Our new No.14.
Lets put this into perspective… Vela started at Osusana sat on the bench (a relatively unknown youngsters sent on loan with apparent potential). During the first 5 games he was given a role, often coming on as a sub. After 10 games he was given a starting role on the left, often coming off in 60th min. Now he is a fully fledged regular who often plays the full 90, either through the middle or on the left. He has replaced Portillo (ex Real Madrid, who was always touted to have masses of potential and has shown glimpses of this) as Osusana’s best player. This has all happened in the space of a season. This is all about development, which the loan move from Arsenal was all about. I think he has surpassed all expectations that Wenger would have had. Plus he has already been given International recognition and scored! Vela obviously has great potential, and next season will be about nerturing this potential. For Wenger to pay £2.5 million for a 17 year old obviously indicates Arsene’s recognition for his talents (remember Anelka cost us 500k as a 17 year old). Give the boy time. He’s a kid who’s been moved about alot during his early development, wait until he settles then we’ll see his true abilities. He is without doubt going to be a great player.
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I have always believed this guys are not ripe for first team action execpt Jay and this article has just comfirmed my fear …wenger should not be decieved I would prefer if he can try all of them in the carling cup rather than in the premiership.lets go for quality players this time around and at least we deserve something after such a long wait honestly I am still disappointed about the whole season wishing it is just nothing be a bad nightmare…any soccer lover who will like to interact with other fans and dicuss any soccer related issues should check out Soccer fan base dot com it is free to join.
Lay off the guy, he’s only young and he’s had a long hard season battling relegation…the weather wasnt great and he was playing a team on the verge of taking the title…lets see what he can do in an arsenal shirt first!!!! Give 20-25 games accross next season and we’ll get a better idea of the KIDS ability
CARLOS VELA IS A NATURAL STRIKER AND FACE IT EVERYBODY EXPECTED HIM TO SIT IN THE BENCH ALL SEASON BUT DID HE? OSASUNA CLEARLY WANTS HIM AN EXTRA YEAR… I SAY HE STAYS WHERE HE WILL SEE A LOT OF THE FIELD AGAINST GREAT TEAMS. LA LIGA BUT WENGER WILL DECIDE IF HE NEED HIM OR NOT….
Nice to know!