It was another great day at the Emirates for Arsenal, as they exacted vengeance on the team that have taken so many players from them in recent years by all-but-ending their title hopes for the season, while keeping their own third-place ambitions firmly in sight.
The scoreline flattered City, who managed less than 40 percent possession without even a shot on target. But how good was each individual player?
Sczeszny: 7
The Polish goalkeeper didn’t have a huge amount to do today, but he showed good reflexes to turn a looping header from Aguero over the bar and provided a safe pair of hands for City’s occasional crosses.
Gibbs: 7
Kieran Gibbs didn’t do anything too right or too wrong. He picked up an injury in the second half and was replaced by Andre Santos.
Vermaelen: 8
After Koscielny kept Aguero in his pocket last time around, everyone’s favourite Belgian robot took his turn with a (suprise suprise) solid defensive performance along with some useful forward play, being unfortunate to get in the way of a goal-bound Van Persie header.
Koscielny: 8
Koscielny was a rock at the back as usual, but his performance was blighted by the fact that he picked up his 10th caution of the season, meaning Arsenal are going to have to use calamity replacement Johan Djourou in central defence, something that may cost them.
Sagna: 8
Bacary Sagna gave his usual combination of excellent defensive work and dangerous-seeming attacking play, being a more effective presence down the right than Theo Walcott himself.
Song: 7
Song wasn’t dreadful, and made some important challenges, but he gave the ball away far too often and couldn’t pull off any of the long balls he has become renowned for. Still, playing effectively enough against a team like City will be good for his confidence.
Arteta: 7
Some will think he deserves a higher score for his 25-yard winner, but in all honesty Arteta spent far too much time going backwards and sideways than trying to find the killer pass. He does deserve credit for the highly unorthodox tactic of taking the ball, kicking it, and scoring a goal.
Rosicky: 8
The renaissance continues for the Czech workhorse. He was lively and added a deal of pace to Arsenal’s attacks, something that was occasionally lacking. Whatever he’s being fed, it still works.
Benayoun: 5
A player in dire need of some of Rosicky’s wonder formula. Benayoun missed a sitter and simply ran himself out of energy without doing anything useful. I worry for him, as Chelsea won’t want him back, and I don’t think he’s done nearly enough to earn a permanent contract at Arsenal.
Walcott: 6
Theo had one of his less memorable performances. He reverted back to his run-followed-by-useless-cross style of play, which was a shame, and he was eventually subbed off for Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, who at least managed to keep the ball.
Van Persie: 7
A good performance from the captain, without any goals. He would have headed Arsenal in front early on but was denied by Vermaelen (not intentionally), and would surely have slotted home had a certain substitute chosen to pass to him....
Subbity Subbity Subs:
Ramsey: 4
Sell this man. Really sell him. Aaron Ramsey didn’t have any vision, any pace, or any finishing, hashing a fairly simple shot miles wide in the dying moments when Robin Van Persie was screaming for it. Another poor performance, but that seems to be the norm for him nowadays.
Oxlade-Chamberlain: 6
A low score because of his minimal involvement, but the hot prospect was decent enough, holding up play towards the end and giving an assured presence on the ball.
Santos: 7
Andre Santos is always good going forward but shaky at the back and today was no exception. He didn’t make any terrible mistakes however, and was arguably better at left-back than Gibbs.
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