Five players are currently away from Arsenal on loan with three
of them - Jay
Simpson,
Kieran Gibbs and
Mark Randall - still on British soil. Striker
Simpson has extended his spell at League One
outfit Millwall, while Gibbs and Randall will be at
Championship sides Norwich City and Burnley respectively. On
the continent, promising Mexican striker
Carlos Vela will play his football in Spain with La Liga side
Osasuna, with talented 17-year-old
Fran Merida at Real Sociedad in Spain's second tier.
Keep up-to-date with the fortunes of all our loan stars in our
regular Loan Watch.
Carlos Vela
Osasuna 1-0 Real Zaragoza, February 10
After his midweek excursion to the Americas, Carlos Vela was
withdrawn on 62 minutes as Osasuna bounced back from last
weekend's heart-breaking defeat against Barcelona with a win
over fellow strugglers Real Zaragoza. Czech Republic international
Jaroslav Plasil notched the only goal of the game in first-half
stoppage-time. Vela was a nuisance to the visitors defence but with
fatigue setting in the young Gunner made way. The win pulls
Osasuna to 15th in the La Liga, just three points behind their
opponents who sit 10th.
Mark Randall
Burnley 1-1 Colchester United, February 9
A substitute appearance on 73 minutes by Mark Randall couldn't
lift Burnley as they failed to overcome bottom-of-the-table
Colchester. Veteran Andy Cole marked his Clarets' debut with a
goal midway through the opening period but Johnnie
Jackson's deflected free-kick seven minutes before the interval
ensured a share of the spoils for the U's.
Fran Merida
Real Sociedad 1-1 El Ejido, February 9
Fran Merida was given a late run-out for Real Sociedad as they
overcame El Ejido thanks to a goal from Diaz de Cerio shortly
before the hour. Arsenal's young midfielder came off the bench
in stoppage time as his new club moved up to fourth in Spain's
second-tier.
Jay Simpson
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Millwall, February 9
Millwall slumped to a second successive defeat as high-flying
Nottingham Forest capitalised on a poor Lions display. Jay Simpson
played throughout but, with the visitors failing to assert any
influence on the game, the Arsenal youngster struggled. Forest
full-backs Julian Bennet and Luke Chambers were the men to register
within 15 minutes of the restart to leave Millwall languishing in
the drop zone.
Kieran Gibbs
Cardiff 1-2 Norwich, February 9
Kieran Gibbs is yet to be used by Norwich since joining the
Canaries on the final day of the transfer window. Currently
enjoying a massive up-turn in results, Glenn Roeder's team
added Cardiff to their list of scalps thanks to Ched Evans'
88th-minute winner. The on-loan Manchester City player had given
the visitors the lead 15 minutes in but Gavin Rae hauled Dave
Jones' men level just before the interval. The winner was just
desserts for Norwich as they climb to 13th in the Championship,
four points adrift of the play-offs.
