Loan watch: Pedro impresses as Salamanca are held

Pedro Botelho, Havard Nordtveit- U.D. Salamanca 0 Alaves 0

Arsenal loanee Pedro Botelho was in action as Salamanca kicked off their new Liga BBVA campaign today against Alavés. Salamanca were on top for much of the game but were without key player David Rodriguez and were lacking a cutting edge up front. Pedro impressed at left-back, often getting forward to support the attack and was equally capable with his defensive duties. Arsenal’s other loanee Havard Nordtveit is suffering from a lack of match fitness and as such did not feature. The Union will be dissapointed not to have won the game but at least they gained a point from this match and they will be looking to add to it when they face Sevilla Atlético next weekend. Before that they face U.D. Las Palmas in the Copa del Ray on Wednesday. You can read yesterday’s loan updates here.

Player of the month-August 2008: Sanchez Watt

Tricky winger Sanchez Watt has claimed the innaugral Arsenal Youth player of the month award for the 2008/2009 season following two impressive displays in the opening under-18s fixtures against Everton and Wolves. In the Everton game, Sanchez was voted the Arsenal Youth man of the match for a great all-round display. His pace, vision and technique were on show for all at London Colney to see and he played a part in the second goal of the game as well.

In the next fixture against Wolves, Sanchez impressed again, scoring with just two minutes on the clock. Arsenal went on to win 3-1 and it looks as if this will be a big season for the England Youth international as he aims to become a Reserve team regular.

He came under pressure for this award by flamboyant under-18s captain Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, whose commanding displays in the first two fixtures underlined just why he is so highly-regarded by the club. Sanchez’s skills and passing accuracy meant that Watt shaded it in the end though. Another contender for this award was Luke Freeman who hit a brace against Everton and followed it up with a goal against P.S.G. in the Zinedine Zidane Tournament.

Sanchez will be looking to retain the award in September but with no fewer than seven games scheduled overall for the Reserves and Under-18s next month, it looks as if it looks as if the competition for the award will be closer than ever.