Loanees – Simpson & Rodgers Star, Traoré Nightmare

Welcome to this weekends Loanees Watch – Young Guns’ analysis, reports and updates on the progress of the young starlets currently plying their trade away from the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal currently have ten Reserve team players gaining experience elsewhere. Armand Traoré and Jay Simpson remain in the top flight with Portsmouth and West Brom respectively, whilst Gavin Hoyte and Nacer Barazite are playing Championship football for Watford and Derby County.

Further down the divisions, League One sides Leicester City and Northampton Town have Kerrea Gilbert and Paul Rodgers, while fellow defenders Abu Ogogo and Rene Steer will ply their trade with League Two Barnet and Gillingham. Two prospects are cutting their teeth aboard – Vincent van den Berg at Dutch minnows FC Zwolle, and Pedro Botelho with Spanish link club UD Salamanca.

In this update you can read about the following players in the following games.

Reports:

Jay Simpson – West Brom 2-2 Burnley – (90 Minutes)
Gavin Hoyte – Watford 4-3 Crystal Palace – (90 Minutes)
Paul Rodgers – Northampton Town 5-1 Crewe – (90 Minutes)
Nacer Barazite – Derby County 1-1 Nottingham Forest – (89 Minutes)
Armand Traoré – Portsmouth 0-2  Swansea City – (45 Minutes)
Kerrea Gilbert – Leicester City 4-2 Huddersfield Town – (45 Minutes)
Abu Ogogo – Barnet 1-1 Accrington Stanley – (Injured)
Rene Steer – Gillingham Town 1-0 Exeter City – (Unused)

Jay Simpson – West Brom 2-2 Burnley

Jay Simpson made his third consecutive start as West Brom hosted Burnley in the F.A Cup this afternoon.

In his two previous appearances Jay has one goal, and that form saw him preferred as the strike partner for the returning Roman Bednar. Simpson began brightly, helping push Burnley onto the back foot. He twisted and turned his way into space before firing a dangerous cross, but Bednar failed to make contact.

As Albion kicked on, Burnley broke and won a surprise penalty. Gary Alexander stepped up and proved to be spot on from 12 yards – were Burnley going to continuing their Cup magic?

the next 20 minutes answered the question. First Rob Koren levelled after volleying home Greening’s corner, and then in first half stoppage time West Brom put themselves into the lead. Kim’s curling free-kick was deflected into the net by Steven Caldwell.

Simpson could have made it three in the second half, and his poor finish was punished late on when Paterson scored to force a replay.

Nacer Barazite – Derby 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Nacer Barazite was handed a starting role as Derby County took on Nottingham Forest in an emotional F.A Cup clash at Pride Park.

The Dutchman flashed an early shot wide as County settled, and as things started to heat up, it was the hosts who bagged the opener. Nacer’s smart run down the right saw him set up Gary Teale, Teale’s cross found Rob Hulse who smashed home the opener.

Gilles Barnes and Paul Green could have made it two, but with the next round within touching distance, Forest showed their mettle. A clever turn bought Robert Earnshaw time, the resulting shot flew beyond Steven Bywater to send this one to a replay.

On 89 minutes Barazite was withdrawn after putting in a mixed shift.

Armand Traoré – Portsmouth 0-2 Swansea

Armand Traoré started Portsmouth’s F.A Cup fixture with Welsh side Swansea City this afternoon, looking to help his new team continue on their route to a second successive final.

Pompey were nearly victim to a Cup upset in the last round, and Swansea were keen to make sure the holders were going out this time. They had some substance to that on 26 minutes when Nathan Dyer struck.

Portsmouth struggled to get to grips with the game, and in stoppage time City made the task even harder. Jason Scotland coolly finished a penalty, meaning Tony Adams had to perform wonders during his half time team talk.

Adams’ switched things for the second period – off came Traoré and Nugent, in their place Kanu and Hreidarsson. The adjustments made little difference as Pompey limped out of the Cup in an embarrassing manner.

Gavin Hoyte – Watford 4-3 Crystal Palace

Gavin Hoyte kept his place in the Watford team as they hosted fellow Championship outfit Crystal Palace in the F.A Cup.

Jay DeMerit and Jack Cork scored inside the opening half an hour, before Clint Hill pulled one back after half time. Watford looked superb in the second period, and secured their two goal advantage when Will Hoskins scored

There was enough time for Grzegorz Rasiak to score the goal of the game with an expert finish, he was mobbed by Hoyte who put in a solid and professional performance. Not even late consolation’s from Niel Danns and Paul Ifill could ruin the Hornet’s day, as they go through to the next round.

Rene Steer – Gillingham 1-0 Exeter

Rene Steer was forced to make his Gillingham Town debut from the substitutes bench as they hosted Exeter City in League Two.

Either side could have had the lead before the break, but it was after half time where the space opened up and we finally saw a goal. Adam Miller stuck the winner with 10 minutes left. Steer never got off the bench.

Paul Rodgers – Northampton Town 5-1 Crewe

Paul Rodgers was thrown straight in at the deep end this afternoon as the defender started Northampton Town’s clash with Crewe.

Rodgers proved to be a good luck charm, as Town snatched the lead after just 2 minutes through another loanee – Billy Clarke. On 19 minutes Danny Jackman doubled the lead – it was proving a walk in the park.

However, any complacency was soon punished when right back Paul lost his clean sheet. Colin Daniel pulled one back, setting up an interesting second period.

But Northampton made sure of the win after the restart, as Clarke completed his hat-trick, either side of a Liam Davis strike.

Kerrea Gilbert – Leicester City 4-2 Huddersfield Town

Kerrea Gilbert continued his extensive run in the Leicester City side as they faced a tricky League One clash with Huddersfield Town.

The game began in a frantic manner, and it was Lee Clark’s Huddersfield who turned the pace in their advantage. Phil Jevon’s crashed the visitors into the lead, before a rare Michael Morrison effort made it all square on 11 minutes.

Gilbert was one of a handful of players booked for unsporting behaviour – life at the top was getting rough.

Kerrea was withdrawn at half time with a suspected injury, and Kiegan Parker punished the defensive change to put Huddersfield in front. Yet despite that goal, efforts from Berner and Fryatt saw the Foxes turn proceedings around.

Jack Hobbs’ header was the icing on the cake late on, but that injury to Gilbert will be a worry to Nigel Pearson.

Abu Ogogo – Barnet 1-1 Accrington Stanley

Abu Ogogo missed Barnet’s trip to Accrington Stanley with a stomach injury.

Article By – J.Sanderson