This week there were five Arsenal loanees in action in a variety of countries. Denilson and promising centre-back Kyle Bartley remain injured whilst Wellington Silva and Samuel Galindo were left out by Levante and Gimnastic de Tarragona respectively. However, with 348 minutes, two assists and three clean sheets they rest received plenty of experience.

Nicklas Bendtner:  The big Dane lead the line for 85 minutes in Sunderland’s 4-0 drubbing of Stoke City.  The black cats took the lead after just 5 minutes; Asmir Begovic making a mess of saving Titus Bramble’s shot.  6 minutes later Jonathan Woodgate headed an excellent cross from former Gunner Larsson into his own net whilst under pressure from Bendtner.  The Dane then got a somewhat fortunate assist for Sunderland’s third; he played a simple 5 yard pass to Gardner whose deflected shot looped over Begovic.  Larsson then rounded off a miserable day for Crewe’s agricultural neighbours with a fabulous 2nd half free kick.

Henri Lansbury: The midfielder played 74 minutes in West Ham’s 0-0 draw at Millwall, but possibly his biggest moment in the game came after just 7 seconds; Lansbury won the ball straight from kick off but his shot flew just wide of David Forde’s goal from 40 yards. Bizzarely, Forde was apparently unaware the game had kicked off and was standing off the pitch at the time.  The England under21 player also hit the bar after Forde could only parry his original shot.  Lansbury, arguably the Hammer’s best player, was at the heart of many of their attacking moves and created multiple chances before being substituted. Arsenal and Tottenham reject David Bentley missed a seemingly simple chance right at the end, leaving West Ham to rue their misses.

credit to Mail Online/ PA

Carlos Vela: Vela lined up on the left for Real Sociedad and provided an assist for the only goal in an otherwise uneventful 1-0 win over Granada.  Once more there was little to this assist; he played a short pass on the right wing to Estrada, who sliced what was seemingly a cross over Fernandez in goal. The Mexican was taken off after 83 minuted as Sociedad moved to sure up their defence and secure all three points.

Joel Campbell: The Costa Rican striker came on just after the hour mark as Lorient drew 1-1 at home with Auxerre.  Emeghara gave Lorient the lead on 23 minutes after Sorin spilled a Romao shot.  Another former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere nearly cost Lorient a goal after giving away the ball on the halfway line.  Campbell came on then, after a number of chances, Auxerre finally equalised; Oliech scored after Le Tallec laid the ball off to him on the edge of the box. The 20 year old was unable to get into the game as Auxerre pressed for a winner. Lorient did manage to hold out to gain a point that keeps them in 7th place in Ligue 1.

Real Vallecano 1-2 Levante

Real Sociedad 1-0 Granada

Pedro Botelho: The Brazilian played for 77 minutes in Real Vallecano’s 2-1 defeat at home to Levante.  The visitors took the lead through Valdo after just 10 minutes, before Ballesteros doubled their lead within the half hour.  In the second half Vallecano came back into the game; Tamudo won a penalty, only to miss it before scoring from the rebound. However, Botelho cost his team the chance to rescue a point from the game by receiving a red card for ‘unsportsmanlike behaviour’.