Arsenal Players Ratings From An Eventful North London Derby By Lloyd The Gooner

Arsenal came from a goal down to beat rivals Tottenham 5-2 in the north London derby on Saturday lunchtime. Here are player ratings from Arsenal fan ‘Lloyd the Gooner’.

Who knows how this game would have turned out had it stayed as eleven v eleven? It’s too easy to say Spurs were the better side up to then therefore…etc etc . But all our usual problems were evident in the early minutes and later on when Tottenham had a go but…YES,COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!! I’ll take any win against them. Here are my Arsenal ratings:

Szcsesney 6. Good to see him back. Did what he had to do. Is just me that worries when he has the ball is at his feet?

Sagna 7. He was up against their biggest danger and performed really well overall. A warrior and we need a few of those.

Mertesacker 5. Our best defender so far this season but his lack of pace was a liability in this game. It always will when we have Bale/Lennon type pace against us. His defending, or lack of it, for the first Tottenham goal was embarrassing.

Koscielny 7. His pace helped in this game. He can bring the ball out of defence at speed. He is getting stronger and looks the part again.

Vermaelen 6. Out of position at left back as a result of Wenger’s ludicrous decision to buy Santos.

Arteta 5. I keep saying it, others must see it. He is simply not athletic enough. I thought he was poor in and out of possession. He is a victim of Arsene Wenger’s buying policy where he has to play in a role he is unsuited for. He needs a rest but who can play as the deep midfielder? Should we try Koscielny, particularly in an away game?

Cazorla 9. The little man was back on form. Clearly with no physical support around him he did a lot of chasing and harrying, over to you again Arsene! But in possession …may be the most two-footed of players I have seen.

Wilshere 7. Quielty Jack is coming back to what he was. One turn in the first half was wonderful to see and very effective.

Walcott 8. A much better player than I thought he was and shows real heart. I hope he stays. He was effective early on when other weren’t. His speed pushes teams back and he is now a fine multi-purpose forward.

Giroud 7. So pleased to see his touch back. We are beginning to play to his strengths, as his goal tally shows.

Podolski 6. Scored and put in a fine cross for the Cazorla goal. Showed by his effort that he knew the significance of the game. If our team was balanced he could be really effective.

Subs

Ramsey. Slow, careful, uninventive. But also calm and steady …at best a squad player.

Santos. What does it say about him that as a professional left back in a big game he isn’t good enough or can’t be trusted to play in his own position? I hope he reflects on that. A January exit surely?

Oxlade-Chamberlain. Great little late cameo.

Agree with my ratings? Leave yours in the comments section.