Carlos Vela missed Arsenal's pre-season campaign as he was away on international duty at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, he returned with an ankle injury which would keep him out until September. He returned to action on 22 September by coming off the bench in Arsenal's 2–0 win by assisting the first and scoring the second goal against West Brom in the Carling Cup. For the 1st goal his left foot shot was parried and the rebound was tucked away by [[Sanchez Watt]], he scored the second goal by pouncing on a loose ball before rounding the keeper and stroking the ball into the empty net.
