With Denilson (at Sao Paolo) and Kyle Bartley (at Rangers) injured, Arsenal only had players in action while out on loan this week, and performances were a mixed bag to say the least with goals, assists and penalty appeals ensuring the Gunners loanees were in the thick of it.
Carlos Vela: Having played 89 minutes in Real Sociedad’s win over Sporting Gijon in La Liga’s opening weekend, Vela only played the final 12 minutes of his sides monumental 2-2 draw with the almighty Barcelona. After two goals within a minute from the Catalans fired in by Xavi and Cesc Fabregas, Sociedad responded in the second half having been outplayed the entire game by exerting their aerial dominance and netting two headers in the 57th and 59th minutes. However, the Mexican striker saw very little of the ball as he closed the game where his side were pinned back by an initially weakened Barca who couldn’t nab a winner despite bringing on Villa, Messi and Iniesta. A characteristically unsportsmanlike move from Sergio Busquests saw him unsuccessfully try to save a goal by using his hand.
Henri Lansbury: After tearing up Azerbaijan and Israel with the England Under 21s, Lansbury continued to exude class on-loan for championship side West Ham in their thrilling 4-3 win over Portsmouth at Upton Park. Luke Varney’s first half opener for the visitors was cancelled out by a Matty Taylor free-kick to leave the score at 1-1 after 45 minutes, prompting Hammers boss Sam Allardyce to give Lansbury a move advanced role; this paid dividends as he hammered a Taylor cross in from close to give the home side the lead. Portsmouth levelled soon after, but Lansbury’s ball-juggling in the Pompey box won his team a penalty via an unlucky handball and Mark Noble converted it, which preceded a fourth goal from Carlton Cole and a consolation for Pourtmouth, a win which leads West Ham fourth in the table.
Sociedad v Barca
Busquets handball
West Ham v Portsmouth
Noble penalty
Nicklas Bendtner: After vowing ‘never to return’ to Arsenal despite only being on a season’s loan to Sunderland, Nicklas Bendtner kicked off his career in the North-East with a close 1-2 loss to Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. A mixture of strict refereeing and shocking defending saw the wearsiders two goals down thanks to a gorgeous Juan Mata free-kick and a teasing backheel from Fernando Torres replacement Daniel Sturridge. Sunderland were weak in front of goal, mainly due to the bizarre loan transfer of star striker Asamoah Gyan to Al Ain in the Middle East; Bendtner squandered the few chances he got but provided a ‘did he mean that or what’ assist for Ji Dong Won to reclaim some pride in the 81st minute.
Joel Campbell: The Costan Rican striker kicked off his loan at Laurent Koscielny’s former side Lorient with a Ryo Miyaichi-esque impact by assisting a late equaliser in his side’s 1-1 draw away at Sochaux. The latter were without their much coveted talisman Marvin Martin (who was suspended) and despite going ahead, they could not stop Campbell playing an exemplary dink to free Innocent Emeghara, who placed his shot in the far corner. Even more remarkably, Campbell came on very late and had a 12 minute debut which has garnered much acclaim in France – along with Lansbury, these are two great talents who are playing well which is almost a polar opposite to the underperforming Bendtner and Vela. Highlights for this game can be watched here.
Sunderland v Chelsea
Dong Won goal
