Five players are currently away from Arsenal on loan. Swiss
international defender
Johan Djourou will be getting valuable Premiership experience
after joining newly-promoted Birmingham City until January.
Elsewhere, defender
Matthew Connolly will spend the entire campaign at Championship
club Colchester United while
Kerrea Gilbert and
Jay Simpson will be in League One with Southend United
and Millwall respectively. Promising Mexican striker
Carlos Vela will play his football in Spain with La Liga side
Osasuna.
Keep up-to-date with the fortunes of all our loan stars in our
regular Loan Watch.
Johan Djourou
Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Birmingham City, December 2
Two former Gunners lined up alongside Johan Djourou in Alex
McLeish's first game in charge of Birmingham City. One of
those, Sebastian Larsson, fired a stunning last-minute strike to
condemn Juande Ramos to his first defeat at the Tottenham helm.
Gary McSheffery scored the Blues' first from 12-yards after
being felled by Younes Kaboul. Robbie Keane then grabbed a brace,
one of which was a penalty conceded by Djourou, before receiving
his marching orders for a lunge on Fabrice Muamba. Cameron Jerome
equalised for the visitors, and with the woodwork denying both
sides it was left to Larsson to snatch all three points.
Carlos Vela
Deportivo La Coruna 1-2 Osasuna, December 2
Carlos Vela continued his footballing education in Spain, starting
in Osasuna's 2-1 win away to Deportivo La Coruna.The result
ended a run of three games without a win and cam thanks to an
87th-minute strike from Eduardo Dady. Depor's Ruben Castro had
cancelled out Jaroslav Plasil's opener seven minutes from time
before Dady struck the winner.
Matthew Connolly
Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Colchester United, December 1
Matthew Connolly was withdrawn at half-time in Colchester's 2-1
win at Sheffield Wednesday. Teddy Sheringham, 21-years
Connolly's senior, put the U's in front after just 52
seconds, and George Elokobi doubled their advantage on 26 minutes.
Akpo Sodje reduced the deficit from a Steve Watson corner later in
the opening period, but a further goal from either side proved
elusive. The result ended a winless run of seven games for Geraint
Williams' men.
Jay Simpson
Millwall 2-1 Bournemouth, December 1
Millwall battled their way past Bournemouth and into the Third
Round of the FA Cup, although Jay Simpson was only on the bench.
Two goals in five minutes shortly after the interval gave the Lions
the upper-hand. In the spirit of a cup tie the visitors fought
bravely and pulled one back through Shaun Cooper with 15 minutes
remaining but the Londoners held on. Loanees Ahmet Brkovic and Will
Hoskins were the scorers for the hosts.
Kerrea Gilbert
Oxford 0-0 Southend United, December 1
Non-league Oxford United will travel to Southend for a Second-Round
FA Cup reply after deadlock on Saturday. Kerrea Gilbert though was
once again left out of the Shimpers' squad.
