There was a belted Christmas present for Reiss Nelson as he returned to action for the first time in a month after injury as he played the final few minutes of Brentford’s emphatic 4-1 success over Bournemouth.
That was Reiss’ sixth appearance for the Bees as he hopes to prove his fitness and win a spot in Keith Andrews’ side’s starting XI in the coming weeks, as they climbed to an impressive eighth place in the Premier League.
Having come on against Fulham on Monday, Oleksandr Zinchenko remained on the bench against his former club as Nottingham Forest were beaten 2-1 by Manchester City to leave them just above the drop zone in 17th position.
In the Football League, Ismeal Kabia played all 90 minutes at wing-back during Shrewsbury Town’s 3-1 loss to Cheltenham Town on Boxing Day, a result that leaves them 21st in League Two and winless in their last six matches.
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Kabia on how his loan spell at Shrewsbury is going](https://www.arsenal.com/news/kabia-how-his-loan-spell-shrewsbury-going?utm_source=arsenaldotcom&utm_medium=embedded-article&utm_campaign=news)
Having enjoyed a 2-0 win at Brackley five days earlier, Maldini Kacurri also tasted defeat on Boxing Day as Morecambe were defeated 2-1 at home to Rochdale in the National League, with our centre-back once again playing the whole game. He could make the 18th appearance of his loan spell when they take on Carlisle United on Tuesday, aiming to move upwards from their current position of 22nd.
That is two places below Braintree Town, for whom Harrison Dudziak made his debut on December 21 in a 0-0 draw against Hartlepool United as he played the full game. He did the same on Boxing Day as they lost 1-0 to Southend United.
In Europe, Jakub Kiwior’s Porto ensured they remained top of the table after beating Alverca 3-0 on Monday, as the Polish defender kept an eighth clean sheet in his 11th league appearance. Jakub will have enjoyed a week off when he next takes to the field against rock-bottom AVS.
Karl Hein (Werder Bremen) and Fabio Vieira (Hamburg) continue to enjoy the Bundesliga’s winter break with their sides not in action until January 10, while Lucas Martin Nygaard’s Brabrand don’t start their Danish Second Division season until March.
Our women's players also continue to recuperate during the festive period, with matches not due to take place again until January 10.
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