Loan watch: six Gunners on the scoresheet

It was an especially prolific weekend of football for six of our loanees, who all scored for their respective loan clubs.

In Ligue 1, Nicolas Pepe was on target for Nice as they dispatched Troyes 3-2 at home. The 27-year-old winger received the ball in space and with explosive pace, raced into the box and lifted it over the keeper.

Fresh from scoring for the England Under-21s last week, Folarin Balogun played the full 90 minutes as Reims valiantly held league-leaders PSG to a 0-0 draw. Only PSG's Mbappe and Neymar have scored more in the league this season than Balogun, who has six goals in ten appearances for the French side. Nuno Tavares missed Marseilles' game against Angers due to suspension, after he accrued three yellow cards in eight games. He was back in the side for Marseilles' Champions League tie, as they cruised to a 4-1 win against Sporting Lisbon.

Meanwhile, in Serie A, Pablo Mari scored his debut goal for Monza in their 2-0 win over Spezia, with a volley rocketed into the net from a corner. 

Back in England, Auston Trusty bagged a brace for Birmingham City as the Blues comfortably saw off Bristol City. Both goals from the American defender came as headers from set pieces and his performance earned him in a spot in the EFL’s Team of the Week. 

Also in the Championship, academy defender Harry Clarke scored his second for Stoke City in their 1-1 draw with Burnley, following two months out through injury. Charlie Patino started both games for Blackpool this week, as they drew with Sunderland and then stormed to a win against Watford.

Tyreece John-Jules continues to shine on loan at Ipswich Town. In midweek, our academy forward came off the bench against Cambridge United and broke the deadlock less than five minutes later. The Tractor Boys notched up a 3-0 win and went on to beat Morecambe at the weekend.

Elsewhere in the EFL, Tim Akinola won Chesterfield’s Man of the Match award, as they were narrowly beaten by Eastleigh. Academy goalkeepers, Ovie Ejeheri and Tom Smith, were between the posts for Chelmsford City and Bromley respectively. Ejeheri saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet as Chelmsford beat Cheshunt 2-0. 

Finally, Mika Biereth scored his first Eredivisie goal for RKC Waalwijk against Groningen and followed up swiftly with his second. Our 19-year-old striker showed impeccable control after receiving a long ball into the box and effortlessly passed the keeper to give his side the lead once more. After this striking performance, Voetbal International named Biereth their Player of the Week.