How did the big Arsenal loanees get on yesterday?

How did Wilshere and Chambers fare on their debuts?

Whilst Arsenal picked up their second win of the campaign, we also had some regular Gunners with a chance of some game time for different Premier League clubs today, notably Jack Wilshere and Calum Chambers, both of whom were sent out on loan for the season.

When Wenger sent Chambers out on loan, although it was met with a little confusion considering the state of our defensive crisis back then, ultimately it was considered a positive move for the young Englishman. We recognised that Chambers needed a loan move away with a Premier League side in order to get regular playing time on a competitive level and so he could improve his experience and overall ability in the game. Middlesborough offered Arsenal and Chambers that opportunity and I think it’ll be a good experience for the defender.

As for Jack Wilshere, there were a few more surprised faces to see a true Gooner leave the club on loan. Wilshere was sent out on loan to Bournemouth in rather surprising circumstances on the final day of the summer transfer window. Although it is relatively disappointing to see Jack leave on loan, at least at Bournemouth he will be getting more playing time and hopefully he can build on his fitness.

Both players made the match day squads for their respective new loan clubs today, with Bournemouth coming up against West Brom and Middlesborough facing Crystal Palace.

Wilshere started on the bench for the Cherries, but did make a subs appearance. It is unknown whether he wasn’t deemed fit enough to start the match or whether Eddie Howe just wanted to implement his new man into the team slowly. Wilshere managed to get 28 minutes on the pitch and although he wasn’t able to influence the game directly with a goal or assist, he certainly got stuck in, played some wonderful link up play and helped his team to a win. Callum Wilson scored a 79th minute goal to see the Cherries pick up all three points. Wilshere’s debut can be taken positively and hopefully he can build on the start to make him even stronger.

Unfortunately for Calum Chambers, despite his manager’s positive comments about him earlier in the week, only a place on the bench was deemed sufficient for the defender today. Chambers was an unused sub, in a game which wasn’t really the right time for him to come into. Middlesborough lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace, where a certain Mathieu Flamini made his debut, and so it wasn’t the right time for Chambers to enter the game from the bench, considering Boro needed a goal.

Chambers will undoubtedly get plenty of game time this season with Middlesborough and much like Wilshere’s move, I can only see positive things coming from this.

One definite positive is that Joel Campbell scored on his debut for Sporting Lisbon. Maybe if he scores 30 goals for them Wenger will realise that he should have kept him at Arsenal!

By AH