It was a good all round team performance from Arsenal against Crystal Palace yesterday and there were some notable showings from the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Iwobi, Xhaka, Elneny and both full backs, but even though his overall contribution was perhaps not the best of the lot, I just have to give Olivier Giroud the Man of the Match for one of the best goals you will ever see.
Cech 7 – Spectator until called on to make a string of vital saves to curtail any comeback hopes.
Bellerin 7.5 – Both full backs key to game as they kept Zaha and Townsend pinned back and unable to counter.
Gabriel 7 – Solid and aggressive but rarely troubled.
Koscielny 7.5 – Such a commanding presence at the back these days.
Monreal 8 – Just edged Bellerin as he set up second goal and was more dangerous in attack.
Elneny 7.5 – Amazing work rate and commitment.
Xhaka 7.5 – Really starting to look comfortable and control games as well as getting stuck in.
Iwobi 8 – Excellent in unusual number 10 role. Star in the making and scored important second goal.
Lucas 6.5 – Some good stuff on rare outing but very one footed.
Alexis 8 – Great effort as usual and assist but did not quite happen for him in front of goal.
Giroud 8.5 – Take a bow Olly. He also made a great flicked pass in the build up to his wonder goal and worked hard.
subs:
Ramsey, Coquelin and Chamberlain 6 – All three did well off the bench.
Bob.
Nice ratings. I like the way Bellerin silenced Zaha as the game went on. I won’t be too harsh on Perez as the team setting didn’t favour his better foot, or was it as if he didn’t understand what he was meant to do? As a left footed player playing at the right wing, he was suppose to cut-in from the opponent’s middle to favour a shot by his strong foot. Instead he was going wide to expose his weaker foot. Better defending and pressing from him though.
I feel we can rotate by using Alexis as number 10 behind Giroud at times.
Same for Sanches,why play him on left as he can’t cross with it. When playing Giroud you need wingers who get the ball over quick. That’s why Monreal and Gibbs come forward. Seems silly if you have quick left and Right players like Walcott Oxy and when Welbeck returns not to use them. As for Ozil look out Awobi is about. CB
what? Sanchez plays there so he can cut inside… Which he does pretty much every time he has the ball and no-one can stop it!
When was the last time he scored cutting inside,that’s why Monreal or Gibbs goes forward and then we are weak at back. His best pos is either right or centre anywhere on the left he is then just ordinary. CB
Bellerin had zaha in his back pocket like if he were his wallet!
My thoughts too. Zaha moved over the other wing because Bellerin was super sharp, in the first half I lost the count of how many times Bellerin rampaged forward starting off attacks. Monreal done ok, but looked troubled by Zaha on a few occasions. The second half didn’t really have anyone stand out, besides Cech. They all looked ok, but because of that first half performance, along with nullifying Zaha in the second, Bellerin best player on the pitch.
What can I say about olivier “scorpion king” giroud magnificent goal from him and a goal of the season candidate!
It’s been a long time since Arsenal dominated their opponent like that game. I think it was because there were Giroud, Sanchez and Iwobi in the front. They were very controlling, made the deeper midfielders’ and defenders’ tasks easier. Arsenal should keep using players like them in the front, to dominate and increase the ball possession rate.
I agree that Giroud was the man of the match. His battle spirit, physical domination againts the opponent’s defenders and teamwork made Arsenal pinned Crystal palace down. He doesn’t have silky skills and movements, but he fought really hard in that game.
And what makes Giroud goal special is how Arsenal started the play. From defense to attack. Like a team goal, then bang Giroud pulled that off. He wasn’t offside.. If you know what I mean
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Iwobi done a decent job of not only filling in for Ozil, he went back to midfield to be the link between them and the forwards too. He done well finding space, and when there was none he’d retreat further and dribble his way into some space. Ozil doesn’t do that often, Cazorla does it well. Elneny looked very good too, very mobile, made allot of passes, and won possession. Xhaka, but for some over-hit long passing, it was a mature performance.
My best player on the pitch was Granix Xhaka. Long accurate passes that can catch opponents off guard. Reminds me of Fabregas.
Monreal wasn’t better than Bellerin yesterday, and I’d rate Xhaka higher. His distribution was why it was so easy to break down the bus.