Player Ratings: WBA 1-2 Arsenal – Rosicky Leads Gunners To Huge 3 Points

Arsenal secured a hard-faught 2-1 victory over West Brom at the Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon, here are player ratings for Arsene Wenger’s men from ‘Lloyd the Gooner’.

As with the game against reading last week this was routine….until the sending off. This followed a crude lunge by the big German. The marks reflect the fact that we expect to challenge for titles and players that do that deal with adversity as well as routine easy-pesy strolls in tha park.

Fabianski 8. Late on, when it mattered, he looked assured, calm, all you would want. I am not convinced he is the answer but he is staking a real claim. If he had stood still for the pen he could have thrown his cap (gloves?) on it!

Sagna 7. The usual Bac fighting spirit. Honestly I think he has gone slightly backwards as a player but Jenkinson should learn as much as he can from this man while he can.

Mertesacker 6. The lunge was caused by ball watching, poor positioning and lack of pace. I would sum him up in general as ok with the odd howler…that is exactly what he was today in particular. He did show fighting spirit though and our sides haven’t always had that.

Koscielny 6. Fought well at the end but if only he was an inch or two taller.

Monreal 7. He hasn’t had many straightforward games to ease himself in to the EPL. On Saturday, after the sending off, he stood up to the test.

Arteta 8. Very clever game. Well positioned nearly all of the time and always a calming influence. This could be a top manger in the making. He so obviously understands the nuts and bolts of the whole game and not just his own part in it.

Ramsey 6. Continues to improve. Great assist for the second goal.

Rosicky 9. Two goals from the contract-seeking maestro?! Also chipped-in with a goal line clearance. Helped keep the game routine up until the red card.

Cazorla 6. Once it was ‘all hands to the pump’ he faded. But he is our little star play maker.

Gervinho 7. He is winning people over again. No post Africa trip blues this year either. He beats defenders, commits them and that is rare these days. Was it a cross or shot for the first goal? Who cares? There are big decisions to be made this summer and he will be the subject of one of them one way or the other.

Giroud 5. He is an honest trier with decent skill. I think he has his place in the squad alongside a real class footballing striker.

Subs:

Vermaelen. Added steal late on.

Gibbs. Added a bit of effort near the end

Coquelin – N/A

What were your player ratings from the game? Get involved in the comments section below.