Arsenal loanee wins Player of the Match after excellent all-round display | OneFootball

Arsenal loanee Jack Henry-Francis had one of his best loan performances so far on Monday, winning Player of the Match for Sligo Rovers.

Arsenal loanee Jack Henry-Francis after a game with Sligo Rovers (Photo via League of Ireland on Twitter)

Arsenal’s Jack Henry-Francis perhaps had a bit of a point to prove this month, having been sent off with Sligo Rovers against Shamrock Rovers a few games ago.

The midfielder served a one-match ban against Dundalk before returning in a 0-0 draw against Shelbourne, but it was his performance against title-chasing Derry City on Monday night that got people talking.

Jack Henry-Francis playing for Sligo Rovers (Photo via Sligo Rovers on Instagram)

Henry-Francis was involved as Sligo took a shock lead in the 33rd minute, winning the ball back before laying it off to Connor Malley for a wonderstrike.

That assist was just one of six chances Henry-Francis created on the day, as well as making four tackles, winning nine of 13 ground duels, and managing a 94% pass accuracy. He even won three free-kicks for his side.

With Sligo going down to 10 men in the second half, they will be pleased to have secured a point, and Henry-Francis earned the Player of the Match award for his contributions.

Jack Henry-Francis playing for Sligo Rovers (Photo via Sligo Rovers on Instagram)

“Really enjoyable game,” Henry-Francis said afterwards. “I thought we were on top in the first half, and a wonderstrike from Connor Malley put us 1-0 up.

“Then we came out second half guns blazing, had a good start to the second half and then the red card killed us a little bit. We lost momentum, and then it was basketball – us and them, us and them.

“[I’ve] really enjoyed it (playing for Sligo), coming into a men’s environment for the first time and getting my games in.”

Henry-Francis made his 10th appearance and fifth start for Sligo on Monday, and he still has a few games to go on his loan.

The team face Bohemians on Saturday, Galway United next Friday, and then the final game of the season against St. Patrick’s Athletic on November 1st.