Arsenal Win 5-0 Nelson MotM. Player Ratings

By Merlion
October 31 2022

This is the 19th time Arsenal have won by five goals or more in the PL, the previous 18 times were under Wenger. Arsenal went in at half time only 1-0 up. But 2 or three up would have been more just. In the second half it didn’t take long for Arsenal to make the score more realistic. Ratings follow:  

Ramsdale 6 - Nothing to do. Just routine stuff and easy saves with shots aimed directly at him. almost lost his clean sheet with the last kick of the game but the ball was aimed directly at him.

Ben White 7 - Nothing much to do, just mundane defending and run along the bye-line quite a bit when Saka was playing. When Soares and Tierney came in to give Saliba a rest, He partnered Gabriel in the centre. Just a day in the office.

Gabriel 6 - One horrific howler like that daft pass from inside the box (was it Saliba?) to Lingard with a clear shot at goal. Minus one point for that howler. Other than that, he was superb in the 2nd half.

Saliba 7 - missed a point for a howler in the box when he miskicked and panicking the defence. One extra point for that blocked shot inside the box from Lingard. Other than that, he was imperious, sweeping behind and as last man, Forest players can't get pass him and he won the ball all the time in a 1-on-1 situation due to his quickness and muscular frame.

Tomi 6 - Nothing much to do and playing as an inverted FB where he spent most of the time inside and centre of midfield. Usual stuff that Forest players can't get pass him and attacking plays improving with him cutting inward along the bye-line and delivering an accurate cross from the bye-line like a winger.

Partey 7 - Extra point for the goal. Otherwise, he is just not up to his commanding best and somewhat lost a bit of confidence in creating more vertical plays. Too many sideward and backward passes.

Xhaka 6 - Look like he is in a slump and not at his commanding best. I felt uneasy as I am seeing that Ugly Xhaka from PSV game to Forest game with him defending deep, inaccurate passing, and using his body to check player running past him, inviting yellow card as usual.

Odegaard 8 - If not for Nelson's scintillating performance, he would be the MOTM. He is at his creative best, with his passes, through balls and dribbling skills to escape the press.

Saka 7 - A good assist and was dangerous driving forward with Forest players performing serial fouling on him to keep him quiet. Left the pitch injured.

Gabriel 7 - Extra point for those 3 assists. A superb link-up players to bring the forward-line into play and why he is always a vital player for Arteta.

Martinelli 6 - Extra point for that goal. Other than that, not much from him, and it is worrying that the Left Side Triangle is not working. Is it due to Tomi and Xhaka in a mini-slump for the past few games?

Substitutions:
Nelson 8 - MOTM. Two superb taken goals that transformed the game and left Forest demoralized and flat on their back

Vieira 4 - He just don't have the body strength to start up against EPL players. Not only that, his passing was woeful, sometime lacking weight and accuracy. At least two good attacking moves broke down due to his poor passing.

Tierney 6 - Provide attacking impetus down left flank.
Soares 6 - He was a good attacking outlet down right flank. But then, Forest had stopped playing and gave him free rein.

Nketiah 4 - Hardly saw him getting involved in theshort time he was on the pitch. Nelson is way ahead of him in the development. Nketiah needed another loan, like Balogun and Pepe, to develop with regular playing time.

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