Tierney MotM v WBA Player Ratings
By Matty Sadler
January 2 2021
Arsenal continued recent upturn in form with a convincing away win at a snowy Hawthorns. First half they played some pretty breathtaking football at times, scoring two very different but similarly brilliant goals, and could've had a couple more. Second half we didn't start as great, which I'll put down to the weather conditions, but we eventually settled, playing with confidence and adding another two.
Yet again Arsenal looked to Saka and Smith Rowe, who have added such composure, energy and quality to areas where we've generally looked pretty flat and uninspiring. Shout out to Tierney as well who yet again dominated the whole left side. Really looking forward to seeing Gabriel and Partey in this side.
Got a decent run of fixtures coming up and really need to keep this going. We're six points off the top four.
RATINGS
Leno - 7. Not massively worked but did everything he had to do well, particularly a couple of saves later on.
Bellerin - 7. Decent. Got forward well and could've scored himself early on. Subbed off early.
Holding - 7. One awful pass in the first half, otherwise a comfortable evening.
Mari - 7. Also not overly troubled but thought he looked good again, and I'll admit I was worried about him in the snow.
Tierney - 9. He's been brilliant recently and got his rewards tonight. Scored a world class individual goal, got an assist for Lacazette's second and ran the left wing again all evening. What a player he is.
Ceballos - 7. Better. Didn't think he'd fancy it in the snow to be honest. Played some good passes and was involved in everything. That turn and chipped pass to Lacazette is what infuriates me about him - he has so much talent.
Xhaka - 7. Did well. Kept things ticking over and allowed others to play.
Saka - 9. Superb again, particularly in the first half. You could see him growing in confidence as he ran Ivanovic ragged. Scored and played a part in the third. He has the world at his feet. MOTM.
Smith Rowe - 8. Continues to impress as he keeps it simple and he keeps it moving. Big part in our second and third goals, the first of which was straight out of Wenger's playbook. Genuine argument for him changing our transfer plans this month.
Aubameyang - 6. Doesn't really look like he's enjoying himself but he played his part and could've scored a couple on another night. Hope he gets one soon.
Lacazettte - 8. Another who continued his fine recent form. Played a part in the second goal with a great pass and then scored two in the second half. Nearly scored a cracker in the first half as well.
Subs:
Maitland-Niles - 6. Slotted in well.
Willian - 5. Pretty energetic but didn't do much good, although nearly "assisted" Aubameyang.
Willock - 5. Added legs but nothing came off for him.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:08:15:33:33 by Padre Pio.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Smith Rowe very good again. -8
Lacca keeps his scoring going. 8
All others 7 bar Aubameyang 5. He just doesn't look right at all.
Good Christmas & New year for us.
"๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐. ๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด."
Quote:Boston Gooner
Splitting the MOTM award between Saka and Tierney. - 9
Smith Rowe very good again. -8
Lacca keeps his scoring going. 8
All others 7 bar Aubameyang 5. He just doesn't look right at all.
Good Christmas & New year for us.
Until Auba stops getting into goal scoring positions I won't worry just yet. They'll come.
How many of our other midfielders would play a pass and then make a driving run like that beyond the ball? Not many that's for sure.
Holding was worth an 8 on that performance.
Since the end of WW1, 1919, when the FA restarted its 4 tier football league, with Arsenal fc in the 1st div, thereโs only ever been one club to have never been relegated from Div 1/ EPL.
Arsenal fc
Letโs keep making history
Quote:MattySadler
Can't stop thinking about that third man run from Smith Rowe.
How many of our other midfielders would play a pass and then make a driving run like that beyond the ball? Not many that's for sure.
He's our kevin de bruyne. The pass around the corner was just as impressive.
I've just watched it again and it's even more impressively as his first touch was with his left foot and he didn't need to break stride.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:02:22:59:32 by Gunnersingh1.
I get the comparisons physically and positionally for sure but what I've always said, and I think I've said it on here a few times as well, is that watching him for the U23s he's always been more of a ball carrier than a final ball player. A more consistent final ball is something I've called for him to add to his game for a while, so would love to see it.
Can see him growing in confidence similar to Saka as well so hopefully it won't be long until he's producing more of those breathtaking runs he used to do for the U23s.
Quote:Wow, glad someone noticed. I was planning to make a gif and write a post about that touch with the outside of the left foot, which robs the defender any chance of getting back to block the cross and makes the assist easy. Just two forwards who know how to combine and the entire team looks different.Gunnersingh1Quote:MattySadler
Can't stop thinking about that third man run from Smith Rowe.
How many of our other midfielders would play a pass and then make a driving run like that beyond the ball? Not many that's for sure.
He's our kevin de bruyne. The pass around the corner was just as impressive.
I've just watched it again and it's even more impressively as his first touch was with his left foot and he didn't need to break stride.