Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal – player ratings

After a 1-0 win over the Sunderland kickems yesterday, Arseblog News runs the rule over the Gunners individual performances, players are about to get rated, yo.

Wojciech Szczesny: 9/10 – A touch wobbly from corners at times, but made brilliant saves, and ensured Arsenal held onto their slender lead. Best performance of the season from him.

Carl Jenkinson: 4/10 – One silly tackle you can forgive, two not so much. He’ll have been told to avoid doing exactly what he did, did it anyway. His rawness is still obvious.

Bacary Sagna: 10/10 – Majestic. Imperial. A dreadlocked dominator. Has had his difficulties this season but man of the match yesterday.

Per Mertesacker: 8/10 – Solid and efficient alongside Sagna, after a couple of iffy showings this was much better.

Nacho Monreal: 8/10 – Excellent in his passing (96% completion), had some struggles with Sessegnon but a good showing. We’ve yet to concede a goal since he signed.

Mikel Arteta: 8/10 – Mikel the metronome, attempted 100 passes yesterday, completed 95 of them, showed his experience winning some time-wasting free kicks late on.

Jack Wilshere: 8/10 – Fantastic in the first half, kicked out of the game in the second. It’s a testament to how good he is, even if it’s frustrating. Let’s hope it’s nothing too serious.

Aaron Ramsey: 8/10 – Showed how much versatility he has by slotting in at right back and performing like a seasoned pro in a position he’d never played. Probably should have scored but always gives the team 100%.

Santi Cazorla: 7.5/10 – Brilliant on the ball, wonderful in possession, scored a great goal but loses a bit for the wayward finishing.

Theo Walcott: 7/10 – At it from the start, forced Mignolet into two excellent early saves, good lay off for the goal, but should have sealed the game in the second half.

Olivier Giroud: 7/10 – Like others his radar was off today, fired a number of shots just wide when he should have hit the target, made a terrible decision late on to go it alone instead of playing in Cazorla. But, defended like a lion, his presence at set-pieces was really important.

Subs

Abou Diaby: 7/10 – Another one who should have got on the scoresheet but his effort was tame. Took the team a while to adjust ti the difference between him and Wilshere, but worked hard.

Ignasi Miquel: 6/10 – Came on late, made one good header and clearance, added some defensive solidity at the end.

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