Arsenal v Monaco: Player Ratings

7.0. Despite the opinion of our favorite pundits and bloggers, I refute the belief that Ospina could have done anything more with the first goal. He would have identified the initial trajectory on a guess anyway as contact was behind Mertesacker, and his weight was already shifting away from where the deflection took it. The third goal is the one worth questioning, as I felt he maybe should have been able to get it around the post (I’ve talked about his weak wrists before). It’s worth noting that he displayed reliable handling throughout and a wonderful save as he came roaring off his line.. GK. Arsenal FC. DAVID OSPINA

RB. Arsenal FC. HECTOR BELLERIN. 5.5. Forgot basic defending rules, like staying back if the other full back is in advanced positions. Not particularly good on the ball, and got beat badly through the middle of the pitch. Rough.

CB. . PER MERTESACKER. 5.2. Made a couple good tackles on the edge of the box but made the worst possible decision trying to challenge on the halfway line with no support, leading to their goal. His days may be numbered.

6.2. Advanced too far a couple times, and was beaten for pace in multiple instances. Also played a shocker across the face of goal that could have made a disastrous day even worse.. CB. Arsenal FC. LAURENT KOSCIELNY

LB. Arsenal FC. KIERAN GIBBS. 5.9. Didn’t combine well with anyone on the left, and let a few touches in good attacking situations escape him. Played a really nice ball into the box that Welbeck couldn’t reach. Neglected basic rules of defending.

Of any player that looked awful against Monaco, I have the most sympathy for Coquelin. He was poor, but as a defensive midfielder with players ahead of you who can’t pass the ball and a defence behind you that isn’t actually doing any defending, what more can you do? Foolish to go into a bad tackle while on a yellow, though. Tsk tsk.. MID. Arsenal FC. FRANCIS COQUELIN. 6.5

7.2. MAN OF THE MATCH — Rough day at the office for the little Spaniard. Felt like all his little flicks near the top of the box were blocked away. Didn’t really pull any strings, but the lethargic movement up front didn’t provide him with many options. All that said, he completed 95% of his passes and created one of Arsenal’s best chance with a wonderful set piece delivery to the forehead of Olivier Giroud.. MID. Arsenal FC. SANTI CAZORLA

MID. Arsenal FC. ALEXIS SANCHEZ. 6.5. Felt like he had it in him to score, but his two attempts on target were relatively tame offerings. Completed a low percentage of passes as tends to happen in matches like this, but he was useful in drawing attention on the left flank.

MID. Arsenal FC. MESUT OZIL. 6.4. Poor from Ozil. He had a couple nice passes and created one chance, but was caught on the ball multiple times and misfired on two passes near the halfway line. Nobody was on the same page.

MID. Arsenal FC. DANNY WELBECK. 6.0. His chance at the beginning should have been taken better. Failed to pull his marker wide, tightening the channels and congesting space well in advanced areas. Arsenal must retain their width to maintain attacking danger.  

5.0. What was shocking about his performance wasn’t how bad it was. What was shocking was how bad it was from a player who is so much better than this. He’s had eight goals and three assists in his last eleven matches. Yet Giroud didn’t put a shot on target from two golden and three or four bronze chances. Hopefully his confidence hasn’t been damaged too badly, as this squad requires him to do their best work.. ST. Arsenal FC. OLIVIER GIROUD

Arsenal FC. THEO WALCOTT. 6.6. Made some high quality runs in, held them nicely, and started from wider positions, giving Arsenal some of the width it desperately needed in attack. Should have finished one of them though.. MID

ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN. 6.8. What a goal. Proud to say, as soon as he feigned a shot and took it down, I knew he was going to score. Gave the ball away too much, though honestly, his turnover on the sequence where Monaco notched their third shouldn’t have led to a goal when there’s 70 yards between the turnover and the goal.. MID. Arsenal FC

6.9. Would have liked to have seen him earlier, as maybe only Ozil and Cazorla- and sometimes neither- are better counterattacking midfielders.. MID. Arsenal FC. TOMAS ROSICKY