[PLAYER RATINGS] Man City vs Arsenal: Battling Gunners Deserved More

Arsenal produced a fine display and should hold their heads high. Yes, in the end we lost the game 1-0, but we pushed City all the way and personally I feel we deserved a point.

There were several things that on another day could have gone our way. Gervinho’s first half shot that squirmed under Hart, hit his heel and just missed the wrong side of the post. Van Persie had a goal ruled out for offside in the second half. It was a very tight one, and could easily have been given in our favour. Of course there was the hand ball which the referee had a great view of and still failed to point to the spot. You got the feeling that had that been at the other end, Dowd wouldn’t have hesitated in giving City a penalty.

The referee was very poor all afternoon in my opinion. Too quick to throw his cards around and most of the time they were given to Arsenal players. What did Arteta get his card for? Throwing his arm in the air? Pathetic refereeing.

Anyway, whats done is done and any slim hopes of miraculously winning the title are surely out the window now. Combined with wins for Tottenham and Liverpool, it ended up being a very bad day for the Gunners. And to top it off, Djourou looks set to be sidelined for 3 weeks.

Looking at the game, I think it’s clear we need attacking reinforcements in January. We’re 1-0 down with 30 minutes to go, and we bring on Arshavin and Chamakh. That’s not good enough. We all know it. Although Arsene Wenger’s substitutions leave a lot to be desired as well.

Wenger persists in bringing on Arshavin and Chamakh in every game when neither have done enough to warrant inclusion. What does Benayoun have to do to get a game?! He offers far more than Arshavin in my opinion and should have been brought on for Ramsey in the advanced midfield role. Same goes for Chamberlain. If Walcott’s having a bad day, throw on the Oxe down the right. But no, Arsene does the obvious, takes off our pace (Walcott) and throws on two low-confidence players who do nothing.

But there were plenty of positives to take from the game itself and we pushed the ‘champions elect’ all the way in their own back yard. Here are my player ratings.

Player Ratings:

Szczesny – 8.5 – Some great saves in the first half kept Arsenal in it and the young Pole didn’t put a foot wrong all afternoon.

Djourou – 6 – Got caught out of position on a couple of occasions before being forced off through injury in the second half.

Mertesacker – 7 – Decent game from the big man. Dealt with the tricky Aguero reasonably well. Was taken off before the end as Arsenal looked for the equaliser.

Koscielny – 8 – Excellent display from the Frenchman until he was shifted to right back after Djourou was subbed. Kos was caught out of position when Balotelli raced clear down the left, and that lead to the goal. Overall very good though.

Vermaelen – 7.5 – Could perhaps have done better to challenge Aguero when he headed down for Silva to score, but otherwise very good. Almost scored twice late on as our defender turned out to be our most potent threat in front of goal as we tried to level things.

Song – 7 – Silly foul lead to an early booking and with the referee in ‘card-happy’ mode Song was forced to walk a tight-rope for most of the game. He’s now suspended for the midweek Villa game after reaching five yellows this season.

Arteta – 8 – Great display from the Spaniard. Controlled the midfield during the second half, just needed to make things happen more in the final third.

Ramsey – 6 – Below par again from Rambo. I thought he should have done better with a first half chance when his control let him down and he failed to get a shot away, and was generally off the pace throughout. Must step up his game.

Gervinho – 7 – So frustrating to watch. Was lively and gets in some great positions but final ball or decision making lets him down too often. Went close in the first half, but a few times in the second half he messed up the cross with players well positioned in the box.

Walcott – 5 – Anonymous. Never got in the game but to be fair to the young Englishman, his team-mates didn’t utilise him either. Too many times Walcott made a run and wanted the ball in to space behind the full back, only for the pass to be played behind him or to feet. Subbed for Arshavin.

Van Persie – 7 – Went close a couple of times and could have done better with a left-footed shot that Hart saved easily. Took his offside goal superbly though. Just not his, or Arsenal’s, day in the end.

SUBS:

Miquel – 5.5 – On at left back in the second half and should have got goal side of Silva for the opening goal. He was nowhere near his man and left Silva free to tap home.  Looked nervous throughout but it was a hard task to come on in such a high intensity game.

Arsahvin – 5 – Poor. Once again. On two occasions he had a chance to put a cross in with several players to pick out, and on two occasions he failed to deliver. Also fluffed a shot at goal when well positioned in the area.

Chamakh – 5.5 – Hardly touched the ball to be honest but as an impact sub striker i would expect more from him.

Watch highlights from Man City 1-0 Arsenal here

So there are my player ratings. Remember, these are just my opinions. Feel free to leave your opinions or your own player ratings in the comments section below.