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 eight 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 Leagues, Kerrea Gilbert is with League One Leicester City, and Abu Ogogo is at League Two Barnet. 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 1-2 Aston Villa – (90 Minutes)
Gavin Hoyte – Watford 0-4 Reading – (90 Minutes)
Kerrea Gilbert – Leicester City 3-0 Leyton Orient – (90 Minutes)
Abu Ogogo – Barnet 0-1 Bury – (58 Minutes)
Armand Traoré – Portsmouth V Man City – (Postponed)
Nacer Barazite – Derby County V Cardiff City – (Postponed)
Previews:
Pedro Botelho – UD Salamanca V Real Zaragoza
Jay Simpson – West Brom 1-2 Aston Villa
After impressing Tony Mowbray as a half time substitute during the 1-0 win over Peterbrough last week, Jay Simpson was handed his first Premiership start as West Bromwich Albion took on Aston Villa in the Midlands derby.
Simpson knew how important a win would be, for two reasons. Not only would it ease Albion’s precarious position at the bottom, but on the flip-side knocking points off Villa could open the door for parent club Arsenal to leapfrog their opponents into 4th place.
The loanee got off to an excellent start. Inside 12 seconds he can pressured Martin Laursen into a lazy pass which won a throw in inside the hosts half, before clattering into Nigel Reo-Coker and winning another set piece.
The 20-year-old created the best chance of the early stages – as he tricked and turned beyond 4 players before seeing a drilled cross put behind for a corner.
Everything good about WBA was coming through the Premiership debutant, who had the commentators waxing lyrical about him after just 6 minutes.
However, with 18 minutes gone Villa turned up the pressure – and Albion crumbled. After clearing off the line twice, Curtis Davies crashed home Gareth Barry’s cross for the opener.
They kept battering away, and just before half time got another. Agbonlahor’s cross was turned into his own net by Scott Carson leaving Simpson’s outfit facing another defeat.
After the restart Aston Villa became a little complacent, and were punished when James Morrison crashed home from the edge of the box. 2-1 and game on.
Jay then missed an opportunity to shoot after cutting inside form the left, but the move displayed key signs that West Brom were willing to fight. His deft flick on the hour mark opened up Villa on the break, and Brad Friedel had to flap away Roman Bednar’s resulting shot.
Simpson drew a booking from Laursen after flying past him and being shoved to the ground. Chris Brunt wasted the free kick but Martin O’Neil was looking a worried man on the touchlines.
West Brom couldn’t build on it though, and the hosts managed to secure the points – putting them 6 clear of Arsenal.
Nacer Barazite – Derby V Cardiff – (Postponed)
Derby County’s trip to Cardiff City was one of a handful of football League fixtures that fell foul of the harsh weather conditions this afternoon.
No new date has been set for the game in which Nacer Barazite was set to start.
Gavin Hoyte – Watford 0-4 Reading
Gavin Hoyte started at right back as struggling Watford looked to build on their F.A Cup win over Scunthorpe United with a win over Reading at the Madejski stadium.
The fixture saw the League’s top scorers against the League’s worst defenders – and the 90 minutes went as the form book would suggest. Despite having to wait for for the opener, Reading were emphatic when it came.
On 38 minutes Hoyte was sucked inside and the overlapping Chris Armstrong was allowed space to volley home his first goal for the Royals. Then two goals in two minutes from Kevin Doyle and Noel Hunt stunned Brendan Rodgers side, who’s defensive nightmares showed no sign of ending.
Leroy Lita summed it up after he was able to run clean through the middle and finish, leaving Watford facing the real threat of relegation.
Armand Traoré – Portsmouth V Man City – (Postponed)
Portsmouth’s home encounter against Manchester City was one of two Premiership fixtures that fell foul of the harsh weather conditions this afternoon.
Kerrea Gilbert – Leicester City 3-0 Leyton Orient
Kerrea Gilbert continued his spell at right back as Leicester City looked to cement their position at the top of League One with three points against Leyton Orient.
It took just 9 minutes for the Foxes to flex their muscles – Matt Oakley putting the hosts ahead. Loanee Mark Davies doubled the advantage shortly before the break, setting up what proved to be a routine win.
Veteran striker Paul Dickov added the icing to the cake late on with a well placed penalty.
Abu Ogogo – Barnet 0-1 Bury
After his assist last week, Abu Ogogo kept his place in the Barnet team for their clash with Bury.
It was one of only two League two fixtures that were not frozen out, but conditions were difficult. It took 37 minutes for the first meaningful action to happen and it was a goal. Bury’s Mike Jones scored it, putting Barnet on the back foot.
On 58 minutes Ogogo was withdrawn, but Barnet couldn’t muster an equaliser.
Pedro Botelho – UD Salamanca V Real Zaragoza
Pedro Botelho will be available for selection after serving his one match ban as 1st place Salamanca take on 2nd place Real Zaragoza in an exciting clash at the top of the table.
Article By – J.Sanderson
dude… who’s this south american we’re gona get then???
pedro is being targeted for fouls n is tightly marked. he has not really made his mark yet
Did that lenny who we got linked with sign a new deal with his club? as was meant to be expiring now
West Brom fan here in peace !
Even though we did lose today I have to say the lad you gave us is quality and Im suprised I only heard of him once we signed him ,he is by far the best striker at the moment at the albion and even mr Mowbray said he was the best player today.
What are the chances we could keep this wonderkid
hope pedro does well so that salamanca gets promoted and it will be easier to get their strip next season :)
there was nothing in the lenny rumours from what i could tell.
we need him to stay ! at the hawthorns
i wasnt sure as you never can guess with arsene. do you know where amaury bischoff stands? as i heard was on a 1 year deal
pedro was alright today i say he would be better if the balls were goin down the left, he has quick feet id say as fast as sumone like richardson or lennon, hes so tall he runs kinda funny, runs like crouch kinda, hes fast for a tall guy, wears pink nike boots lol, had a nice shot saved before he came off, id give him 6 or 7/ 10 but thats cus they never put it down his wing, plus he was gettin fouled quite alot
I saw that game too, and SImpson was simply great.
He showed that he has arsenal potensial!
yes jay was fantastic I just watched the second half but he did very well.
Small correction to the text, wba drew 1-1 with peterborough, not beat them 1-0.
Jay Simpson kept making darting run, who were regularly ignored or not seen by his team mates. I was thinking with Jack Wilshere feeding him, he would have score at least a brace.
The concept of reverse ball or releasing the ball in space behind the central defenders for the striker ro run at seems to be alien to Albion players. They were far too lateral and not enough penetrative.
Albion have decent strikers, but their midfield are headless chicken. Useless in attack and deadly by their absence in defense.
With a goal keeper who IMHO has already cost them about 6~8 points, Albion is doomed.
Chris Brunt was either unfit or he is one of the worst footballer who has ever played in the Premiership. Single 5 yards passes were systematically going astray. All his crosses looked like clearance in row Z.
The playing time and how to handle the week-in week out pressure may benefit Jay Simpson, but I doubt that he will learned anything playing with them. The only midfield player who seems decent was Jonathan Greening, but he was forced in a more reserve role as the back four protector.
With a decent goalkeeper, Albion should have a draw, and could even have nicked a victory. Today Scott Carson cost Albion 1 point.
I do not understand what people see in him. I have never rated him and obviously neither does Capello. He is always rooted on his line, he does not come on corners or crosses and fumbles a lot of shots.
Villa scored on their first corner against the run of play. How come Curtis can head the ball three yards away without Scott Carson attempting to catch the ball.
Villa’s second goal is another classic example in the ever expanding collection of bloopers that Carson made.
Sounds like Simpson is doing well, Traore and Pedro need to step it up because left wing is a position he could fill. I know ive said hes not got it in the past but only because of his consistancy, if he played to his full abilities every day he’d be immensense and if he proves he can do that at West Brom id say hes got more than a chance at staying with us.
Good analysis Valentin. Seems, according to you, that we should loan them Lansbury and Merida as well.
Simpson showed some good touches and made some good runs, but he also lost the ball a few times and got isolated.. I know he’s young but he still has a way to go before he can really start playing against a top-4 defence..
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