Akpom finally gets his first professional goal
The season didn’t start the way the manager, players and fans alike expected but we have to remember that it’s just one game and the lads have a chance to make amends in the next game against Crystal Palace. The Gunners have been faced in this kinda scenario as recently as the 2013/14 season. After suffering a shock home loss to Aston Villa, the Gunners went on to win eight games in a row before the draw against West Brom. Things aren’t looking too good from an Arsenal perspective so we’d have to wait till Sunday to see how the players do their bit to heal the wounds of Sunday.
Meanwhile, Gooner Daily has decided to see how this season’s loanees are faring in their new club as they begin the 2015/16 season.
Chuba Akpom and Isaac Hayden were part of the Hull City side that beat Huddersfield in the Yorkshire derby. Sam Clucas opened the scoring for Steve Bruce’s side but Akpom sealed the victory with a lovely goal to put the game beyond doubt. I’d shared my thoughts on Akpom leaving on loan and I didn’t envisage starting ahead of the likes of Abel Hernandez, Nikica Jelavic and Sone Aluko but there’s no better way to make a statement for yourself and to your manager by scoring on your debut.
Speaking of debut goals, Jon Toral headed in a nice cross from Clayton Donaldson to score on his Birmingham City debut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVyymsH_EZ4
Toral had a great experience with Brentford last season and scoring in his first game for Birmingham would have done wonders to his confidence. When it comes to confidence, Dan Crowley is a lad that oozes of confidence with his performance at youth level despite playing with players above his age grade. In his debut for Barnsley, Crowley created an assist for Conor Wilkonson but Chesterfield had enough in the tank to see off the threat of Barnsley. Goals from James O’ Shea, Slyvain Ebanks-Blake (remember him?!) and Sam Morsy sealed the contest for Chesterfield.
Elsewhere, Ainsley Maitland-Niles played 82 minutes for Ipswich in their 2-2 draw with Brentford and Yaya Sanogo got 27 minutes in Ajax’s victory over AZ Alkmaar. I wonder if Sanogo will get consistent game time in Ajax and I’d be hoping he gets a couple goals under his beta before he returns to the squad to battle for his place in the 2016/17 season… even though a part of me feels that his Arsenal future is in doubt.
Carl Jenkinson and Wojciech Szczesny were the only loanees that didn’t feature due to the facts that the Serie A hasn’t started and Jenkinson couldn’t play against his parent club.
It’s always good to see the lads on loan doing well, and I hope they have productive campaigns this season.
Sayonara.
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