Arsenal v Liverpool: Player Ratings

7.8. Two goals against, yet nothing he could do about either. Coutinho’s effort was inch perfect, and an unmarked Skrtel nodded home easily in the closing stages. Made several wonderful saves in the dying minutes, and only one moment of pure panic at the edge of his box.. GK. Arsenal FC. WOJCIECH SZCZESNY

CALUM CHAMBERS. 6.8. Struggled today, not only in dealing with Sterling, but also with his normally high quality of play going forward. Helped out mightily by Oxlade-Chamberlain’s tracking back.. RB. Arsenal FC

Not his worst game, but certainly not a great one. Had a couple quality interceptions, but the relationship with Debuchy isn’t quite as stout as it appeared in their last pairing.. CB. Arsenal FC. PER MERTESACKER. 7.1

CB. Arsenal FC. MATHIEU DEBUCHY. 7.5. If he can develop a solid enough understanding with Mertesacker, Debuchy is a much better choice at deputy centre-back than Monreal. A solid header of the ball, he did well against a Liverpool squad with plenty of attacking verve. Scored the gutpunch goal at the end of the first half.

Arsenal FC. KIERAN GIBBS. 7.6. Arsenal’s best defender today, the left flank was kept quiet, though that’s in part to Sterling’s deployment on the right. Played the ball into Giroud that led to the go-ahead goal in the second half.. LB

7.0. Picked up an early yellow and somehow managed to stay on for the duration of the match. Seemed frazzled against the quality and movement of Liverpool. Delivered the header for Debuchy’s equaliser.. MID. Arsenal FC. MATHIEU FLAMINI

MID. Arsenal FC. ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN. 7.6. Had a very poor day going forward, but his rating is saved by his magnificent work on Raheem Sterling on the right side. Stymied Liverpool’s pace man with some scintillating one-on-one defending.

Arsenal FC. SANTI CAZORLA. 7.9. MAN OF THE MATCH- Cazorla gets the nod today for one of the loneliest performances in recent memory. Saddled with making the four-wide midfield of Welbeck, Alexis, himself, and Oxlade-Chamberlain tick, he was the player trying to launch the counters. Had too little help in midfield as Welbeck and Alexis aren’t tremendously gifted passers and the Ox dropped off to provide cover for Chambers. Also provided a perfect ball to Giroud for his goal.. MID

He’ll always work hard, but he’ll only thrive when he has a midfield engine running behind him. Arsenal were summarily outclassed and outnumbered in midfield today, and it affected him.. MID. Arsenal FC. ALEXIS SANCHEZ. 7.1

Arsenal FC. DANNY WELBECK. 7.2. Started on the left but ended up swapping with Alexis before the half. Never posed much of a threat, but was a necessary presence when Arsenal played the long balls forward to relieve pressure on the back line.. ST

7.7. Has made the case with recent performances that he’s Arsenal’s first choice striker. Once some midfielders return to fitness, expect to see Welbeck dropped in favor of Giroud up front with Alexis in the hold behind him or running off the left flank.. ST. Arsenal FC. OLIVIER GIROUD

Arsenal FC. FRANCIS COQUELIN. 7.2. Replaced Mr. Giroud and was not as poor as everyone may have expected in executing his defensive responsibilities. Had a couple very nice passes out from the back to trigger potential counters.. MID

Arsenal FC. JOEL CAMPBELL. 6.8. Replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain and completed a couple passes in a mostly defensive final minutes.. MID

Arsenal FC. NACHO MONREAL. 6.8. Came on late for Alexis, didn’t do a great deal.. CB