Monday, 2 September 2013

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur: how the players rated - Telegraph.co.uk

Per Mertesacker 7

Made a good early block to deny Soldado and began the build-up to Giroud's goal with an important tackle on Chadli, as the Spurs winger threatened to break through.

Laurent Koscielny 6

Returned from a one-match domestic ban and was a solid presence in the Arsenal back line. Set the tone by snuffing out a dangerous early burst from Townsend down Arsenal's left.

Kieran Gibbs 6

Was exposed at times defensively, particularly by the pace of Townsend, but he really grew into the game and was a useful outlet for Arsenal on the left.

Aaron Ramsey 8

Missed a really good opportunity in the first half, ballooning over from 16 yards when dangerously placed, but he broke the play up magnificently and drove the Gunners midfield forward.

Jack Wilshere 6

Wilshere had looked strong in the centre of midfield before being forced off in the first half. The good news for Arsenal and England was that his early departure was down to illness, rather than injury.

Tomas Rosicky 7

By the time he was withdrawn late in the match, his impact had diminished, but he was heavily involved in the first half and set Walcott free with a nicely-weighted pass in the build-up to the goal.

Santi Cazorla 7

A creative menace who was at the heart of so much of Arsenal's good work in the first half. Proved an elusive target for Spurs, who struggled to get to grips with him.

Theo Walcott 8

His speed was a constant problem for the Tottenham backline. Got a lot of joy from running in behind them, including for Giroud's goal, for which he supplied the cross.

Olivier Giroud 7

Has now scored in all three of Arsenal's Premier League games this season. Showed the sort of predatory instincts for his goal that Arsenal forwards have so long been accused of lacking.

Substitutes:

Mathieu Flamini for Wilshere (43 mins) A tenacious display that helped overcome the loss of Wilshere. Booked for a strong challenge on Rose 7

Nacho Monreal for Rosicky (79 mins)

Bacary Sagna for Walcott (90 mins)

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Tottenham Hotspur

Hugo Lloris 8

Made a string of excellent saves to keep Spurs in the match, and also produced an accomplished sliding tackle out of his area to deny Walcott. Could do little for the goal.

Kyle Walker 6

Overlapped well with Townsend down the right, nearly setting up a goal for Soldado. The majority of Spurs' defensive troubles came on the other side of the pitch.

Michael Dawson 5

Partly at fault for Giroud's goal, allowing the forward to get across him far too easily, although it was an episode in which many of his colleagues were also culpable.

Jan Vertonghen 5

Won't be pleased with his role in the goal, as he failed to track Walcott's run in behind, and did not look as comfortable throughout as you would normally expect.

Danny Rose 5

Drawn out of position all too easily for the goal, and struggled to cope with Walcott. Was a better option when he got forward down Spurs' left-hand side.

Etienne Capoue 6

Was wasteful at times in the first-half, losing control of the ball far too easily. His day was ended early when he suffered a nasty-looking injury that required him to be carried off.

Paulinho 6

Promises to be a fine signing, and was accomplished on the ball here, but he could never quite influence Tottenham's midfield in the way Andre Villas-Boas would have liked.

Andros Townsend 7

A threatening presence down Tottenham's right, he gave Gibbs a hard time at left back in the first-half. Spurs might feel they didn't take advantage of that matchup well enough.

Mousa Dembele 6

One of many players in the Spurs midfield who looked powerful and solid, but, like his colleagues, was not able to provide a great deal in terms of creativity.

Nacer Chadli 6

Tormented Jenkinson early on, turning the Arsenal left back inside and out on occasions, but that early promise came to nothing, as his influence dulled as the match wore on.

Roberto Soldado 6

A quiet afternoon for the striker, who showed signs of frustration at times. Might have had better luck, had it not been for important close-range blocks from Mertesacker and Giroud in either half.

Substitutes:

Jermain Defoe for Dembele (69 mins) Went close to equalising with a deflected shot, only for Szczesny to deny him 6

Sandro for Capoue (75 mins) 6

Eric Lamela for Townsend (75 mins) 6

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