It is never easy to rate the players when they deservedly get beaten and today is no different. I cannot be anything than honest, maybe some of the players will get a higher rating once I watch the game again but they also run the risk of being rated even lower such was the performance from the players today.
So here are my ratings……
Bernd Leno 6
Nothing he could do for Jagielka’s goal and he made some critical saves, most importantly against Bernard and one of the few players that can walk off the field with his head held high.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos 5
Sokratis was once again booked and now has a two-game ban to face, though in all honesty, I am not sure he will be all that missed.
Shkodran Mustafi 5
He basically got outmuscled for large parts of the game, got a deserved booking and while he never made any huge errors, he was hardly inspiring.
Nacho Monreal 5
The Spaniard did not look fit, he looked weak and like his fellow defenders was outmuscled, he was unable to stop Richarlison and was overall mediocre.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles 3
You could not be blamed for thinking he never played before such was his presence, hardly any runs down the flanks and for the most part was inconspicuous.
Sead Kolasinac 4
Also subbed at half time and he cannot have any complaints, he offered very little on the flanks and will not be too proud of his performance today.
Mohamed Elneny 3
Was deservedly substituted at half time, was absolutely ineffective and was simply outplayed and outfought. There is nothing positive to say about his contribution.
Matteo Guendouzi 6
Never commanded the middle of the park and for long periods was running around like a headless chicken, but at least he had a go unlike some of his team mates.
Mesut Özil 3
No surprise he was the final player to be subbed and should have been yanked earlier, he let himself and the team down once again, we deserve better from the German, he is too talented and paid too much to be putting in these sort of performances, he simply was not up for the game at any time and it showed.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan 5
He did try I will give him that but he was wandering about too much and when he did have the ball he did very little with it, his control was suspect and showed no vision or creativity.
Alexandre Lacazette 4
Never really offered anything in the game, it was not all his fault as he was offered little service, but when he had the opportunity he failed to hold the ball up, make any effective runs and was basically a bit part player.
Subs
Aaron Ramsey 5
If anyone could have turned the game around it was Ramsey but he made no difference and never looked like being the game changer we needed.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 4
When he came on he played like he was pissed off at not starting, he probably was not sulking but his contribution certainly looked like a player having a strop.
Alex Iwobi 5
Cannot really criticise Iwobi, he came on late and was surrounded by mediocrity and he fitted in just perfectly in the circumstances.