This feels like the start of an acid test for Arsenal. Three games against strong opposition started with Liverpool. And after two successive defeats, Arsenal's temperament, as well as their quality, would be under pressure. After a deserved 2-0 win over Liverpool, the Gunners can consider their first test well and truly passed.
Wojciech Szczesny - 7 – A solid display was nearly sullied by a horror moment, when he nearly gifted Daniel Sturridge a goal. But the Pole's luck was in, and he made a couple of decent saves in the second-half.
Bacary Sagna – 8 – The Frenchman's excellent season continues. He had Aly Cissokho in his pocket in the first-half, and covered Per Mertesacker effectively when needed. His run and cross for Santi Cazorla's goal should not be overlooked.
Per Mertesacker – 8 – I confess I worried whether the German's lack of pace & mobility would leave him vulnerable. But his nous and positional sense offset any weaknesses in his game tonight. He led the back four with aplomb, ensuring they often caught Liverpool's attackers offside.
Laurent Koscielny – 8 – This was one of the Frenchman's best performances for Arsenal. He came up against a motivated Luis Suarez, and largely kept the Uruguayan quiet. He won a series of 1 vs 1 tackles, and was a key part in Arsenal keeping a clean sheet.
Kieran Gibbs - 8 – Gibbs didn't make as much attacking headway as Sagna, but he defended stoutly, especially when Liverpool had the better of the early exchanges. However, he did make one excellent forward burst in the second-half. Unfortunately, it resulted in him picking up an injury, and he had to be substituted.
Aaron Ramsey – 8 – Ramsey started slowly, but as Arsenal worked their way into the match, he made a series of intelligent forward runs, which I felt would bring him a goal. However, it wasn't his shuttling bursts that produced his 10th of the season, but a scorching drive from outside the box. It's time for me to stop being surprised at the player the Welshman is becoming.
Mikel Arteta – 9 – With Mathieu Flamini absent, the demands on the captain to provide a shield for his defence was huge. And Arteta responded with his finest display in an Arsenal shirt. As well as starting the move that led to Cazorla's goal, the Spaniard was indomitable in defence. He had more touches than any other player (120), as well as the highest passing accuracy (94%).
Tomas Rosicky – 7 – Rosicky was another one to raise his game for the occasion. While he didn't make any noteworthy individual contributions, his high-energy pressing, and quick use of the ball was a key component in Arsenal's midfield dominance.
Mesut Ozil – 7 – While we didn't see the best of the German, he's too good a player to have no influence on a performance like this. He gave Ramsey a fine pass to set up a chance for the Welshman in the first-half, and then repeated the trick with his assist for Ramsey's goal. Don't underestimate how difficult the pass is that he played before Ramsey made it 2-0.
Santi Cazorla – 7 – Cazorla has looked a bit rusty after coming back from injury. It appears that the rust has been shaken off. This was a much sharper display from him than in the past fortnight. He made more key passes than any of his teammates (3), and the alacrity with which he scored his goal bears well for the rest of the season.
Olivier Giroud – 7 – While the Frenchman missed a gilt-edged chance to make it 2-0, Giroud's game is built around more than goals. He was an important pivot from which to build attacks. He held the ball up intelligently, and made some important defensive headers when Liverpool had set-pieces.
SUBS
Nacho Monreal – N/A – He was brought on to help Kieran Gibbs, but will likely see some more first team action now, after Gibbs left the pitch with an injury.
Thomas Vermaelen – N/A – Slotted in at left-back when Gibbs departed.
Carl Jenkinson – N/A – The final substitution to preserve the clean sheet.
It's said that the league table begins to take shape after 10 games. While I'll reserve judgement until the Christmas period, there's some validity in journalist, Iain MacIntosh's appraisal of the match: “As for Arsenal, that's quite the riposte to suggestions that they're flat track bullies. With reinforcements in January... who knows?”
Who knows, indeed.
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