Arsenal secured an important
victory and returned to the Top
Four. An eight-minute-storm was
enough to secure a convincing
victory over the newly crowned
FA Cup winners, and third place is even a possibility. Player Ratings: Wojciech Szczesny |7.5: Apart from his distribution that was
detected as a problem before
(still, one of his goal-kicks helped
to set up Podolski’s second
goal), he could be having a
problem with free-kicks and was out of position majorly when
Koscielny cleared. Made a brilliant
save to deny Kone at the start
of the second half. Bacary Sagna |7.0: Offered more when he was going
forward and participated in the
play that led to our second goal. Per Mertesacker |7.5: His partnership with Koscielny has
been a strong foundation for
our recent good results. He
helped Podolski to score first
and nearly grabbed himself an
assist with flick-on. Defended well. Another excellent
performance. Laurent Koscielny | 8.0: Made a crucial clearance in the first half
and cut a serious counter-
attack from the visitors. Played
with the ball well too. Missed a
sitter to spare us the stress but
it seems Gooners can’t get away without it. Brilliant
performance. Kieran Gibbs |7.5: Dealt with McManaman well and nearly
scored after Sagna’s shot-
cross. Made a superb tackle at
2:1 for us. Mikel Arteta |7.0: Gave away some fouls in dangerous areas
but he also cleared a lot of
situations after we lost
possession. Unfortunately, it
seems that we will have to beat
Newcastle without him due to a calf injury. Get well soon, Mikel! Aaron Ramsey |7.5: Rounded another energetic performance
with a clinical finish for his first
Premiership goal this season.
However, he lost the ball on
more than a few occasions and
opened possibility for counter- attacks and was bailed out by
Gibbs’ tackle in one occasion. Tomas Rosicky | 7.0: His passing game was good in terms of
keeping possession but offered
very little in terms of direct
football. Was close to scoring a
goal in the second half. Theo Walcott| 8.5: Theo has kept his goal-scoring form and
added an excellent performance
to it. Apart from the goal, he
also created two chances for
Cazorla but both times the
Spanish midfielder missed. Santi Cazorla |9.0: He grabbed himself all four assists. He
could’ve scored on two
occasions but it wasn’t the
night for him goal-wise, but what
a superb haul of assists. His best
performance for some weeks Lukas Podolski | 8.0: Did well to score two crucial goals but he
could have been more involved in
the game. Substitutions: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain |7.0: Looked very lively after entering
the pitch. Jack Wilshere |7.0: Added some energy to our midfield. It will be
his last game at the Emirates
before an ankle surgery,
however he should feature
against Newcastle this weekend
especially with Arteta injured. Thomas Vermaelen |N/A: Replaced Arteta due to
Spaniard’s injury.[color=]Arsenal secured an important
victory and returned to the Top
Four. An eight-minute-storm was
enough to secure a convincing
victory over the newly crowned
FA Cup winners, and third place is even a possibility. Player Ratings: Wojciech Szczesny |7.5: Apart from his distribution that was
detected as a problem before
(still, one of his goal-kicks helped
to set up Podolski’s second
goal), he could be having a
problem with free-kicks and was out of position majorly when
Koscielny cleared. Made a brilliant
save to deny Kone at the start
of the second half. Bacary Sagna |7.0: Offered more when he was going
forward and participated in the
play that led to our second goal. Per Mertesacker |7.5: His partnership with Koscielny has
been a strong foundation for
our recent good results. He
helped Podolski to score first
and nearly grabbed himself an
assist with flick-on. Defended well. Another excellent
performance. Laurent Koscielny | 8.0: Made a crucial clearance in the first half
and cut a serious counter-
attack from the visitors. Played
with the ball well too. Missed a
sitter to spare us the stress but
it seems Gooners can’t get away without it. Brilliant
performance. Kieran Gibbs |7.5: Dealt with McManaman well and nearly
scored after Sagna’s shot-
cross. Made a superb tackle at
2:1 for us. Mikel Arteta |7.0: Gave away some fouls in dangerous areas
but he also cleared a lot of
situations after we lost
possession. Unfortunately, it
seems that we will have to beat
Newcastle without him due to a calf injury. Get well soon, Mikel! Aaron Ramsey |7.5: Rounded another energetic performance
with a clinical finish for his first
Premiership goal this season.
However, he lost the ball on
more than a few occasions and
opened possibility for counter- attacks and was bailed out by
Gibbs’ tackle in one occasion. Tomas Rosicky | 7.0: His passing game was good in terms of
keeping possession but offered
very little in terms of direct
football. Was close to scoring a
goal in the second half. Theo Walcott| 8.5: Theo has kept his goal-scoring form and
added an excellent performance
to it. Apart from the goal, he
also created two chances for
Cazorla but both times the
Spanish midfielder missed. Santi Cazorla |9.0: He grabbed himself all four assists. He
could’ve scored on two
occasions but it wasn’t the
night for him goal-wise, but what
a superb haul of assists. His best
performance for some weeks Lukas Podolski | 8.0: Did well to score two crucial goals but he
could have been more involved in
the game. Substitutions: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain |7.0: Looked very lively after entering
the pitch. Jack Wilshere |7.0: Added some energy to our midfield. It will be
his last game at the Emirates
before an ankle surgery,
however he should feature
against Newcastle this weekend
especially with Arteta injured. Thomas Vermaelen |N/A: Replaced Arteta due to
Spaniard’s injury.[/color]Arsenal secured an important
victory and returned to the Top
Four. An eight-minute-storm was
enough to secure a convincing
victory over the newly crowned
FA Cup winners, and third place is even a possibility. Player Ratings: Wojciech Szczesny |7.5: Apart from his distribution that was
detected as a problem before
(still, one of his goal-kicks helped
to set up Podolski’s second
goal), he could be having a
problem with free-kicks and was out of position majorly when
Koscielny cleared. Made a brilliant
save to deny Kone at the start
of the second half. Bacary Sagna |7.0: Offered more when he was going
forward and participated in the
play that led to our second goal. Per Mertesacker |7.5: His partnership with Koscielny has
been a strong foundation for
our recent good results. He
helped Podolski to score first
and nearly grabbed himself an
assist with flick-on. Defended well. Another excellent
performance. Laurent Koscielny | 8.0: Made a crucial clearance in the first half
and cut a serious counter-
attack from the visitors. Played
with the ball well too. Missed a
sitter to spare us the stress but
it seems Gooners can’t get away without it. Brilliant
performance. Kieran Gibbs |7.5: Dealt with McManaman well and nearly
scored after Sagna’s shot-
cross. Made a superb tackle at
2:1 for us. Mikel Arteta |7.0: Gave away some fouls in dangerous areas
but he also cleared a lot of
situations after we lost
possession. Unfortunately, it
seems that we will have to beat
Newcastle without him due to a calf injury. Get well soon, Mikel! Aaron Ramsey |7.5: Rounded another energetic performance
with a clinical finish for his first
Premiership goal this season.
However, he lost the ball on
more than a few occasions and
opened possibility for counter- attacks and was bailed out by
Gibbs’ tackle in one occasion. Tomas Rosicky | 7.0: His passing game was good in terms of
keeping possession but offered
very little in terms of direct
football. Was close to scoring a
goal in the second half. Theo Walcott| 8.5: Theo has kept his goal-scoring form and
added an excellent performance
to it. Apart from the goal, he
also created two chances for
Cazorla but both times the
Spanish midfielder missed. Santi Cazorla |9.0: He grabbed himself all four assists. He
could’ve scored on two
occasions but it wasn’t the
night for him goal-wise, but what
a superb haul of assists. His best
performance for some weeks Lukas Podolski | 8.0: Did well to score two crucial goals but he
could have been more involved in
the game. Substitutions: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain |7.0: Looked very lively after entering
the pitch. Jack Wilshere |7.0: Added some energy to our midfield. It will be
his last game at the Emirates
before an ankle surgery,
however he should feature
against Newcastle this weekend
especially with Arteta injured. Thomas Vermaelen |N/A: Replaced Arteta due to
Spaniard’s injury.[b][/b]