A much-improved performance and the lads have given themselves a great chance of reaching the Europa Cup final with a very decent 3-1 win over Valencia.
It did look like another loss was on the cards early on when we went 1-0 down to Diakhaby’s goal in the 11th minute but the team showed immense character, did not let their heads drop and deservedly got themselves back into the game with a well-taken goal from Lacazette seven minutes later.
Lacazette gave us the lead in the 25th minutes and Aubameyang finished the game off with a nicely taken 90th-minute goal that gave us the crucial 3-1 win.
It could have been better and the away goal may end up hurting us but overall I am happy with the performance and to a large extent that is reflected in the ratings.
Petr Cech – 7
Could have been better placed for the opening Valencia goal but that is being slightly petty and that save with his feet at 2-1 could be so crucial, had a good game overall.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 5
Did ok going forward but was poor in defence and his weak header back to Cech in the first half could have been very costly
Shkodran Mustafi – 6
I thought Mustafi did ok, he made some dodgy unnecessary fouls but also made some crucial tackles as well and in comparison to recent games, he stood strong in my opinion.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos – 5
He worried me big time every time he was one on one because he tended to get beaten, made the odd tackle but still a limited performance.
Laurent Koscielny – 8
Lead by example today making some crucial interventions and when you consider that he was clearly injured his display was all the more credible. If he plays like this more often the defence will be the better for it
Sead Kolasinac – 6
If only he could be more consistent with his crossing, yes he found Aubameyang at the end but far too often found the first man.
Matteo Guendouzi – 6
Took time to get into the game and then he made himself very busy hustling for the ball all the time, definitely a work in progress and an ok game.
Granit Xhaka – 6
Did well I thought, broke up play well and linked up with the forwards far more often in this game than he has done recently, could have been better but overall did ok.
Mesut Ozil – 6
I so hate to do this but he should have done better and was rightly subbed, did not have a bad game but neither did he have a good game and too often he was just slowly wandering around.
Alexandre Lacazette – 9
He would have been a ten but he missed a couple of sitters and you just cannot do that at this level but he definitely deserves a nine for the goals he did score.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 8
His late goal could be what takes us through to the final, he had a decent game, his pass to Lacazette for the equaliser was clinical and his partnership with the Frenchman is starting to work effectively.
Subs
Lucas Torreira – 6
Took control of the midfield when he came on in the 58th minute and looked far more assured today than he has done in a while.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 5
Done less than Ozil who he replaced and that is about all I can say.
Nacho Monreal – No Rating
Was only on for about 10-15 minutes and do unfair to rate him really