Arsenal v BATE Player Ratings – Wilshere running the show but everyone played well

There was an excellent driving team performance from the Arsenal reserves last night in the destruction of BATE, and the focus was on our strikers as BATE rarely ventured into our half until the game was done and dusted. I really can’t say that anyone had a bad game…

So here are my ratings…

David Ospina – 7

seeing as the ball was very rarely in our half, Ospina had very little to do, but he retained his concentration and did his job when needed.

Mathieu Debuchy – 8

Debuchy surprised me last night with his attacking abilities. Maybe Bellerin will feel threatened for his place now…

Rob Holding – 7

The youngster also had very little to do, and rarely ventured forward but a clean sheet deserves a rating…

Calum Chambers – 7

Chambers is on his way back to full fitness. A competent display, and got involved a bit more than Holding…

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 7

This youngster is gaining in experience and I think he has earned a few chances in the first team during the busy month ahead…
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Mohamed Elneny – 8

Mo looked much more comfortable in midfield, and will have gained extra confidence from his goal and even hit the post..

Francis Coquelin – 8

Coquelin played well for the second game in a row and perhaps it’s time to give Xhaka a rest to see if Le Coq can do a better job…

Jack Wilshere – 9

Jack’s back! He has hit form at just the right time to make his mark when Wenger rotates….

Theo Walcott – 8.5

If only Theo played like this every week. He would definitely get more game time. Him and Wilshere should get to play together more often…

Danny Welbeck – 7

Danny seems to be taking his time getting truly match fit. Played okay but he fluffed a great chance to dribble past their keeper in a one-on-one situation. Definitely not as scintillating as he was early in the season yet…

Olivier Giroud – 8

Oli was looking lively. A few shots went astray but took two good penalties!

5 Comments

  1. Bearing in mind the abject oppposition , I would personally not give such high marks, esp to Giroud, Welbeck, Coquelin and Chambers. I thought both Danny And Olivier lacked sharpness, Walcotts first goal being a lucky deflection to him when Welbeck lost proper control. I remain a fan of Welbeck and Giroud but last night , I thought them below the standard they need in Prem games. Debuchy had a storming game and is ready to come in as Bellerin is not the player he was a year plus ago. I think Bellerin is physically weak and often outmuscled. Definitely agree that Wilshere should now be a Prem starter, in place of Xhaka, or of Iwobi if he is played further forward, which is his best position. Wenger should now be offering a new contract to Wilshere and would be a fool to lose him.

  2. Giroud, Welbeck and Walcott benefited from the use of wingers in the BATE match. They are not as creative as Sanchez, Ozil and Wilshere, but Welbeck and Walcott used their pace and runs to force the BATE defenders to stay in their own area, and Giroud was released from the markings.

    Maybe Wenger plans to use 4-2-3-1 again, just for the future home matches, so they can use the extra midfielder to dominate the midfield. And maybe he would stick to the 3-4-2-1 formation in the upcoming away matches, so they can have more defenders and to launch quick counter-attacks.

  3. I am not too carried away with the 6-0 win against BATE Borisov, who were really poor, but I am truely happy for Debuchy and Wilshire. They needed the goal for so long, so badly. Also, I am glad Elneny scored. It was a well taken goal. I hope that this will boost their confidence and they will bring more competiton among players. Will Wenger rotate the squad for PL matches? I am not so sure, though.

  4. I thought Giroud was poor a 6 max. He is not great when he starts.

    I like Elneney and think he should get more PL minutes. He is more stable and consistent than Xhaka.

    Also would not mind Ospina to get some more PL games. Nothing against Cech’s leadership but his shot blocking and reaction time are no longer what they used to be.

  5. With the way team were moving the ball I thought Giroud looked out of his depth and surely at best a 5. And as for Danny boy – bless him he is a great athlete and has likeable qualities but he is so clumsy and just not enough basic skills at this level. I always get the impression when he scores its more by luck than anything else. So again a max of 5 for me.

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