Loan Watch: Easter agony for loanees

Five players are currently away from Arsenal on loan. Cameroonian midfielder Alexandre Song is getting Premiership experience after joining Charlton Athletic until the end of the season while defender Kerrea Gilbert will spend the entire campaign at Cardiff. Fabrice Muamba and Nicklas Bendtner do likewise at Birmingham and Arturo Lupoli will spend the rest of the campaign at Derby County.

Keep up-to-date with the fortunes of all our loan stars in our regular Loan Watch...

Nicklas Bendtner, Fabrice Muamba
Birmingham City 0-1 Burnley, April 7, Barnsley 1-0 Birmingham City, April 9
Nicklas Bendtner played the final 31 minutes and was denied by the woodwork as Birmingham slumped to a second 1-0 defeat in three days. Former Manchester United youngster Daniel Nardiello curled home the only goal of the game from a seemingly impossible angle on 52 minutes. Bendtner was then introduced but saw his attempt at an equaliser rebound off the post. Fabrice Muamba also emerged from the bench for the final two minutes. Bendtner also played 76 minutes of the 1-0 defeat to Burnley on Saturday. Former Arsenal player John Spicer struck the winner with 10 minutes remaining. Muamba was an unused substitute. The weekend's results leave Birmingham's promotion aspirations in the balance. The Blues are now third in the Championship, four points behind second-placed Derby but with a game in hand.

Alexandre Song
Manchester City 0-0 Charlton Athletic, April 7, Charlton Athletic 0-0 Reading, April 9
Alexandre Song featured twice for Charlton over the Easter weekend as two goalless draws saw the Addicks move out of the relegation zone. The Cameroonian midfielder played a full 90 minutes when Alan Pardew's side travelled to the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday but could not help Charlton find the breakthrough. Emile Mpenza had an effort cleared off the line for the hosts and Charlton stopper Scott Carson twice denied Joey Barton. Song kept his starting place for the visit of Reading on Easter Monday as the Addicks picked up another precious point. It could have been three but Talal El Karkouri's header crashed off the crossbar. Pardew's side are now 17th, one point above nearest rivals Sheffield United who have a game in hand.

Arturo Lupoli
Leicester City 1-1 Derby County, April 6, Derby County 1-1 Coventry City, April 9
Arturo Lupoli played 77 minutes as Derby were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Coventry. The Rams had to come from behind after Leon McKenzie capitalised on a wayward Tyrone Mears back pass to put the visitors ahead on 73 minutes. Billy Davies' side hit back through midfielder Matt Oakley with 13 minutes remaining. Lupoli also played 10 minutes as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at Leicester on Good Friday. Craig Fagan finished a Giles Barnes cross to put Derby in front on 23 minutes but substitute Matty Fryatt earned a point for the home side midway through the second half. The weekend's results leave the Rams second in the Championship, one point behind leaders Sunderland who went top with a 2-1 win at Southampton.

Kerrea Gilbert
Cardiff City 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday, April 7, Burnley 2-0 Cardiff City, April 9
Kerrea Gilbert did not feature as Cardiff's play-off hopes were dented by two Easter weekend defeats. Goals from Leon Clarke and Deon Burton either side of a Roger Johnson effort gave Sheffield Wednesday a 2-1 win at Ninian Park on Good Friday. Steve Jones and Paul McVeigh struck either side of the break to give Burnley a 2-0 victory on Easter Monday. The Bluebirds are now 10th in the Championship, five points from the play-off places.

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