Arsenal
Player Ratings: Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland: Santi Stands Out
Arsenal began the new Premier League season with a 0-0 draw against Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon. Here are player ratings from the game
Having been at the game yesterday, I left not knowing what to think. A common reaction around me in the ground. I rate the players as follows:
Szczesney 7. Did what he had to do. One decent save. Don’t leave your goal area unless you really need to!
Jenkinson 7. Some around me called him a liability. I thought he dealt well with a major threat in McLean. Needs to guard possession better. Don’t ever forget he has Theo in front of him and all that comes with it.
Mertesacker 6. Steady.
Vermaelen 6. Untroubled at the back and asked a few questions of the opposition going forward.
Gibbs 7. More composure needed going forward but dealt efficiently with all that Sunderland threw at him. Which wasn’t a great deal to be fair. The 7 mark is a message through the ether to Arsene not to play Santos instead of him. My heart can’t take it!
Arteta 7. In a deep lying role prompted well.
Diaby 7. Needs time to gain confidence after all his injury troubles but we saw yesterday he could be special for us this season.
Cazorla 8. High class performance from a high class player. First touch, passing, creating space. It was all there and shots too. A snip no matter what he cost!
Walcott 5. Harsh yes as he had a hand in one particular good move in the first half. But he completely unbalances the team by playing as a wide man and not being good enough to do it. He did the old pros trick of finding a defender to mark him when he didn’t want the ball. He is a second striker or he is nothing and we don’t play 4 4 2…
Podolski 6. Showed intelligence, but he is a player in need of a role in the team.
Gervinho 7. I know he could find a blind alley to run down in an open field but at least things happen around him. Please Gerv’ take a deep breath after you’ve beaten your man, look up and …! It works wonders.
Subs:
Ramsey. Set up the Giroud miss with a clever ball to Cazorla but is so slow you wonder..
Arsh… you know he could do something this season but not if I get to him first!!
Giroud. Heh! Who said come back Chamakh all is forgiven?! Not me, the big man needs a little time. (Can I get up off my prayer mat now?)
Guest post by: Lloyd The Gooner
How would you rate the players? Get involved in the comments section.
