Arsenal v Newcastle: Player Ratings

7.8. Made two point-saving saves, with the first coming off a header that took a deflection a couple feet in front of him and the second a fantastic leg save as he went to the ground. Came out dangerously to collect and failed to do so more than once.. GK. Arsenal FC. DAVID OSPINA

Arsenal FC. CALUM CHAMBERS. 6.9. A liability at right back in this match, he pushes forward and exposes the space behind him for opposition players to drift in to too often. Bellerin has some of the same problems, but possesses the speed to get back quickly, which Chambers does not.. RB

7.4. Had a very good first half but made some suspect decisions as the clock ticked toward 90′. There may come a day where he’s preferred to Mertesacker, but it’s not here yet. Still, had 7 interceptions and 11 clearances in what became a backs-to-the-wall scenario.. CB. Arsenal FC. GABRIEL

CB. Arsenal FC. LAURENT KOSCIELNY. 7.7. Won all his aerial duels and buzzed around capably in support of Gabriel. Sissoko’s goal was an issue in marking, but it looked as though he was in Gabriel’s zone. He’s Arsenal’s mainstay in the back four.

Not a tremendous day for the Spaniard who’s <a href=. LB. Arsenal FC. NACHO MONREAL. 7.2

Excellent in the first half, he was quite poor for a great deal of the second until the final few minutes where he regained some traction. Completed 82% of his passes, tackled successfully 6/7 times, and had four interceptions.. MID. Arsenal FC. FRANCIS COQUELIN. 7.7

Arsenal FC. AARON RAMSEY. 7.4. Very possibly denied Olivier Giroud his hat trick, and was one of the main players who struggled mightily in the second half. Became increasingly prone to dribbling down blind alleys, but he pays it back in his positive play and work rate.. MID

7.0. Cazorla and Ramsey’s heat maps look similar, though Aaron Ramsey is the actual deeper lying midfielder in the current scheme. Only completed 72% of his passing which isn’t acceptable for a player of his quality.. MID. Arsenal FC. SANTI CAZORLA

The engine is sputtering to life a little, particularly in some inventive class he showed in the box. Came out with 20 minutes to play, and that may be the extent of his rest (<a href=. FWD. Arsenal FC. ALEXIS SANCHEZ. 7.2

7.0. Had 7 successful take-ons and would have backed him to get a goal after seeing him in the early minutes. Went from bad to worse for the England lad. He may be able to play Olivier Giroud’s position, but he’s little threat to the Frenchman now.. FWD. Arsenal FC. DANNY WELBECK

Arsenal FC. OLIVIER GIROUD. 8.3. MAN OF THE MATCH – Arsenal’s main man, Giroud bagged a brace and could have had a third if not for some timely interceptions from Aaron Ramsey. He moves wider than he ever has, dragging open the channels in the middle of the pitch, and his flick for the first off his knee was great. The header was a flashback to Everton, seeing him hold off the defender and drive the ball flat-footed past the keeper.. ST

Came on to shore up the defense in support of Coquelin and very nearly cost Arsenal the win with a horrendously misplaced pass. Francis Coquelin is and will be the man in defensive midfield.. MID. Arsenal FC. MATHIEU FLAMINI. 6.8

TOMAS ROSICKY. 7.0. Completed 12/12 of his passes in the twenty minutes he saw, but the match wasn’t quite open enough for him to flex his creative muscle. Did find Chambers down the right touchline with a pinpoint pass to help relieve pressure on the Arsenal defense.. MID. Arsenal FC

Arsenal’s current first-choice right back so nearly found Giroud his third, but Krul dealt with the pass well enough.  . RB. Arsenal FC. HECTOR BELLERIN. 6.5