Honest Arsenal Player Ratings v Blackburn By Lloyd The Gooner

Arsenal slumped to a shock 1-0 loss to Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon. Here are player ratings from fan ‘Lloyd the Gooner’.

I would ask anybody criticising these ratings to answer two questions. Were you there? Did you pay? I can answer yes to both.

Szczesny 2. Had one major thing to do and fluffed it. Earlier on he flapped when he came out to punch. On this showing nowhere near the standard required.

Coquelin 4. Started in lively fashion then became embroiled in the general lethargy. Clearly not a right back. I suspect that if we as a club still want to dine at Europe’s top table this guy is not quite up to the level needed.

Vermaelen 4. Buchan, Hapgood, Mercer, Mclintock, Adams, Vieira – a club turns its lonely eyes to you!

Koscielny 5. Showed some urgency which was rare.

Monreal 5. Not the worst player on the day. Late on provided some danger for Blackburn but along with the other three defenders that wasn’t the main problem.

Arteta 3. No drive, no strength, no invention. Nobody could ever say this man doesn’t try but he was part of the problem not the solution on Saturday.

Rosicky 3. Why suddenly burst into action when the subs are about to come on? Is it the same player that plays out of his skin for a contract then disappears?

Diaby 3. Anonymous. Is he ever going to be the dynamic all action end to end player he promised to be? This was not the performance to give us hope.

Gervinho 3. Useless but I don’t buy into the ‘lets all blame Gervinho’ philosophy that some fans have. He was no worse than many. It’s time to leave the club though.

Oxlade Chamberlain 3. Ineffective throughout. Too young to be the butt of the fans ire and thank goodness he wasn’t.

Giroud 2. Poor in every department of the game. He is a magnet for the ball, sadly set at the same pole! Virtually every cross went where he wasn’t.

Subs

Wilshere. Bit too much of the double teapot. Just play Jack. That said he made a difference but that says much more about the lack of effort and urgency that went before.

Walcott. Should have buried the header.

Cazorla. Did ok when he came on which emphasised the thinness of the squad.

Manager. The deadwood is your fault. The lacklustre, lazy nonsense of the first hour is the players fault. Deal with it!

The board – Silence will not be an option soon so get your answers ready. Uzmanov looms.

What are your thoughts on Arsenal’s latest performance? Who’s to blame? Leave your opinions in the comments section below.