It has been a busy week for several members of this season's Arsenal loan army and that's despite some leagues pausing temporarily for the World Cup.
Once again, there were no domestic fixtures for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Folarin Balogun, Ryan Alebiosu, Mika Biereth or Omar Rekik, whilst Pablo Mari is still recovering after being discharged from the hospital following surgery to reconstruct damaged back muscles after being injured in a supermarket stabbing in Milan last month.
The past week has also brought about a double injury blow with Alex Kirk and Tyreece John-Jules both returning to Arsenal for treatment. Both are facing up to three months on the sidelines with an ankle problem and after undergoing hamstring surgery respectively, but are expected to return to Ayr United and Ipswich Town once they are fully fit.
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After featuring for their respective national teams outside of the World Cup, Alex Runarsson and Nicolas Pepe can now put their feet up, whilst Nuno Tavares has completed his international commitments for Portugal U21s where he was reunited with Fabio Vieira.
As the Championship is on a break until next month, Auston Trusty, Salah-Eddine, Harry Clarke and Brooke Norton-Cuffy weren't in action, and in League Two Mazeed Ogungbo - who now has a new manager in former Tottenham and West Ham winger Matthew Etherington - was once again left out of the Crawley Town squad in the goalless draw with Gillingham last Tuesday.
In addition, Tom Smith was able to put his feet up with Bromley's fixture against Wrexham being postponed and Nikolaj Moller didn't feature for Den Bosch with no games in the Ereste Divsie taking place.
With Miguel Azeez's Ibiza FC not playing until Monday evening, it means there were as many as five Arsenal loanees in action over the weekend. Charlie Patino was in the Blackpool side that drew 1-1 against Watford in a friendly out in an 'intense workout game in Spain' and Marcelo Flores started Real Oviedo's 1-0 win over Mirandes.
Ahead of the FA Cup third round draw, the second round fixtures took place on Saturday and Tim Akinola helped National League side Chesterfield beat League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon away from home in one of the shocks of the round, but there was disappointment for Arthur Okonkwo as Crewe Alexandra lost 3-0 against Barnsley.
Last but not least, young goalkeeper Ovie Ejeheri returned to the Chelmsford City starting line-up after being named on the bench for FA Trophy victory against Redditch United last weekend and he helped the National League South side overcome Worthing 3-1.
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