How we rated Arsenal’s performances as they beat QPR with ten men this evening.
Arsenal managed to get back to winning ways at the Emirates Stadium this evening after a relatively comfortable win over Queens Park Rangers at the Emirates Stadium, despite the Gunners missing a penalty and going down to ten men in the second half when Olivier Giroud was sent off.
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This is how we rated Arsene Wenger’s men:
GK) Wojciech Szczesny 7 – Was very rarely tested by Queens Park Rangers’ attack and commanding enough – maybe disappointed that he dived past Austin’s penalty.
RB) Mathieu Debuchy 7 – Played well in the first half and, although less involved, was also solid after the break. Incredibly unlucky to concede a penalty for a decent tackle.
CB) Per Mertesacker 6 – Not overly tested by the visitors but did look somewhat nervous on occasion when Rangers did get the ball forward.
CB) Nacho Monreal 6 – Much like Mertesacker, Rangers didn’t have enough pressure for him to be overly exerted, but didn’t exactly exude confidence.
LB) Kieran Gibbs 8 – Was excellent down the left for Arsenal, solid defensively and a threat in the opposition half, bagging an assist along the way.
DCM) Mathieu Flamini 5 – Is certainly left outnumbered in the centre of the Gunners’ midfield but his lack of mobility and pace is alarming.
CM) Santi Cazorla 6 – The Spaniard looked creative on the ball but didn’t really give Flamini as much help as the Frenchman would’ve wanted.
CM) Tomas Rosicky 8 – Took him a while to get to the pace of the game, perhaps understandably, but was excellent after that and took his goal well.
ARM) Alexis Sanchez 8 – The Chilean is just a fantastic player, his close control and acceleration is frightening, although Sanchez did see a penalty saved.
ALM) Danny Welbeck 6 – Very quiet, although his movement in behind is becoming crucial to the way that Arsenal are playing.
SC) Olivier Giroud 4 – An utterly idiotic sending off that left the referee with no choice – left his teammates down when they were in total control.
SUB) Calum Chambers 5 – Sent on to shore things up late on but was targeted by the dangerous Junior Hoilett.
SUB) Francis Coquelin 6 – Really sent on to waste time and add another defensive body to proceedings.
MAN) Arsene Wenger 6 – His decision to go with such an attacking line up was bold, but it only really became a problem after Giroud’s stupidity.