Arsenal Vs. Bournemouth Player Ratings

Arsenal got a much-needed win away at the Vitality stadium today, putting them in third place. Here are Pain In the Arsenal’s Arsenal team player ratings.

Arsenal picked up a huge win away at the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth. If Arsenal had left this game with less than three points once again, the alarm bells would be sounding all around London. Bournemouth are not Leicester and Arsenal are not out of the woods yet, but this is a first step for sure.

Anyway, here are the player ratings.

PETR CECH. 7.0. Petr Cech, unsurprisingly, kept a slid clean sheet against a Bournemouth side that peppered his goal with shots that often <a href=. GK. Arsenal FC

6.8. Hector Bellerin kept a clean sheet today against a team that utilizes their wing players for offense, so very much a commendable performance by him for that. However, Bellerin is an attacking full-back. The reason his rating isn’t higher is because he simply is not generating enough on the offensive end right now.. RB. Arsenal FC. HECTOR BELLERIN

7.0. Solid performance today at the back from ever-present Koscielny, helping his teammate Cech to another clean sheet and keeping his teammates in line during the latter stages of the game when Arsenal were shutting up shop. No-nonsense from the Frenchman, typical Arsenal defense against a newly promoted side.[/ grade]Gabriel improves his composure every time he earns another start, and he is surely making Arsene Wenger question Per Mertesacker’s value as a first-choice center back. The rash challenges were less present, but Bournemouth have less runners than Saints and that is not so surprising. However, good performance from the Brazilian.. CB. Arsenal FC. LAURENT KOSCIELNY

Monreal turned in another consistent performance on the left side for the Gunners, proving his worth once again and keeping Kieran Gibbs consigned to the bench. He could provide more of an option with overlapping runs, but it wouldn’t come as a shock to learn that he has been told by Arsene Wenger not to do that. Good performance from the Spaniard.. LB. Arsenal FC. NACHO MONREAL. 7.0

Arsenal FC. MATHIEU FLAMINI. 6.6. If Mathieu Flamini’s match rating could say “7.0 for filling Coquelin’s spot, 6.6 for playing”, it would. The Frenchman is fine to have in midfield against a bottom-half side, but he is a serious liability against better teams. As usual, didn’t do much on either side of the ball other than get booked at the start of the match. Good Coquelin impression, Flim-Flam.. MID

Aaron Ramsey picked up an assist today, a typical performance from the Welshman against a team he knew he could pick apart. He lost possession a few times today, which needs to improve, but overall provided a great attacking threat while remaining relatively responsible on the defensive end. Relatively responsible – though he didn’t give any goals away.. MID. Arsenal FC. AARON RAMSEY. 6.9

Arsenal FC. MESUT OZIL. 8.1. MAN OF THE MATCH. Mesut Ozil scored a volley with his weaker right foot to put Arsenal ahead. That alone should get him serious rating points. The German linked up play well, combined with Alexis Sanchez well and helped the Ox get some free space that really benefitted his game. Some more service for Giroud would be optimal, rather than the other way around. However, a win is a win, and big Mesut orchestrated this one.. MID

6.6. Alexis Sanchez doesn’t have to pop up on the stat sheet for his overall performance to be good, but he genuinely didn’t have a great game against the Cherries. His work rate was good and, as always, he drew quite a few defenders out of position with his running. However, his end product – and first touch, for that matter – were not great.. MID. Arsenal FC. ALEXIS SANCHEZ

Arsenal FC. OLIVIER GIROUD. 6.7. Once again, Olivier Giroud was relatively absent from a match where, if he had positioned himself differently, he might have received more opportunities. Scarce accurate crossing combined with more space for his midfield teammates meant that he served as a dummy in a lot of attacks, never aiming to be the one on the end of the final ball. Put in a great headed assist for Mesut. That was the highlight of his match today.. ST

6.7. Francis Coquelin appeared for 25 minutes once again today, slowly regaining his fitness. The Frenchman didn’t have to do a ton, but he helped his team secure a win. The only surprising part about his appearance was that he didn’t replace Flim-Flamini. Why not, Arsene?. MID. Arsenal FC. FRANCIS COQUELIN

Next: Arsenal Have Another Wonderkid In Their Sights

KIERAN GIBBS. 6.6. . LB. Arsenal FC

Kieran Gibbs used to be a left back, but nobody at the Emirates is totally sure where he plays now. He came on for the left winger, Alexis Sanchez, so it could be inferred that he is now a left-sided attacking midfielder. However, he dropped deep after ninety seconds of being on the pitch, almost like another left back. Didn’t have to do much overall.[/ grade]