Wellington Silva, Lansbury, Botelho and Campbell were just some of the Arsenal loanees that missed out on game time this week – for many reasons they haven’t received much playing time in recent weeks. Here is how those who did play got along:
Samuel Galindo:
The Bolivian played the final 11 minutes as his side cruised to a 5-0 victory at home to CD Sabadell. Goals from Moran, Powel (2), Tuni and Luna gave them their first win of the season as they climbed off of the bottom of Segunda Division.
Denilson:
The out-of-favour midfielder came on for the final four minutes, but his side lost 4-3 away to Bahia. In an exciting game, Sao Paulo squandered a 3-1 lead, with Lulinha and Fahel scoring before the collapse was completed by a Luiz Eduardo own-goal. This was their ninth league defeat of the season and they fell to 8th in the league, their lowest position this year. Now eight points behind Corinthians with just five games left, any small title hopes they had a surely all but over.
Kyle Bartley:
The young centre back was played in midfield as he made his return from a long injury lay-off in Rangers’ 3-1 victory against Dundee. Jelavic converted a McKay cross in the first half before scoring from the penalty spot in the second; Wylde was fouled by the lunging Dixon. Daly pulled a goal back but Whittaker secured the win eight minutes from time. Wylde was then sent off for kicking Flood, with Bartley one of those booked in the aftermath.
Carlos Vela:
The Sociedad striker played the full 90 minutes but was unable to help his side as they went down 4-0 to Rayo Vallecano. Even missing the on loan Pedro Botelho due to injury, Vallecano impressed as they defeated Real’s 10 men – Inigo Martinez was sent off after just 10 minutes, conceding a penalty and much of his team’s hope in the process. Piti converted the penalty and second half goals from Michu (2) and Trashorras secured the win.
This was Sociedad’s sixth defeat in seven games and leaves them in the relegation zone. Vela had little affect on the game as his side was outnumbered, leaving the Mexican isolated once more. His lack of goals – 0 in 7 games this season – has resulted in him being left out of the Mexico squad for their upcoming friendly against Serbia.
Nicklas Bendtner:
The Dane lead the line for 90 minutes at Old Trafford as Sunderland lost 1-0 to United on Ferguson’s 25th anniversary weekend. Before the game the Scotsman had a stand named after him. The gifts then continued during the game; Wes Brown gave the most valuable of these during the game, heading into his own net, allowing United to take all 3 points. Sunderland had a penalty awarded by the linesman before the referee correctly, if rather fortunately, overturned it and awarded United a free kick after Ji Dong-Won handled a cross. Bendtner nearly turned in a Larsson cross, but it was just out of the striker’s reach, summing up a frustrating day for the black cats.
