Arsenal v Chelsea: Player Ratings

DAVID OSPINA. 7.7. Did very well to save the Ramires shot which was the only true threat on goal today. Clattered Oscar with a vengeance and was lucky to avoid a penalty and cards.. GK. Arsenal FC

7.8. Was involved in some good play down the right flank and dealt with Hazard nicely. He’s maturing quickly and these big games help, but he was caught on the ball more than once.. RB. Arsenal FC. HECTOR BELLERIN

PER MERTESACKER. 7.9. Enjoyed a good day at the office with Koscielny, with the only major threat being the Ramires shot on goal. Strong in the air, good to see he looks healthy enough for the end of the season.. CB. Arsenal FC

CB. Arsenal FC. LAURENT KOSCIELNY. 8.0. Had some really terrific defending on balls played into the box, limiting the threat posed by Chelsea’s penchant for chipping balls forward into space. Good day of fighting for the Frenchman today.

Arsenal FC. NACHO MONREAL. 7.8. Nearly delivered the assist that would have likely won the game on Mesut Ozil’s foot. But no luck. Defended well for the most part and made a couple very smart tackles, including a fairly cynical one to break a Chelsea counter.. CB

8.2. MAN OF THE MATCH- This team is really benefitted by him being in the squad. Completed 92% of his passes, including work in more advanced areas than he’s used to, and had 5 interceptions. Massive help in fracturing forward moves and ensuring it takes something special to score against this side.. MID. Arsenal FC. FRANCIS COQUELIN

MID. Arsenal FC. SANTI CAZORLA. 7.9. The man has lost his boots as far as shooting from open play goes, but he’s operating in a box-to-box role so capably. It’s a tremendous illustration of how physical attributes aren’t always locked to certain positions on the pitch.

MID. Arsenal FC. AARON RAMSEY. 7.6. There were the normal flashes of brilliance (see: back heel) and also the not-so-brilliant (see: a lot of the match). Aaron Ramsey being deployed on the right has benefits, but it comes at a pretty high cost. There’s a lot of width lost and pace degrades as proximity to the final third grows tighter. He can combine with Bellerin and is helpful for the young right back, but it comes at quite the price.

Arsenal FC. MESUT OZIL. 7.9. Was fantastic in the first half and struggled a bit in the second, though careful watchers will notice that his movement off the ball helped open small windows for other players during the last 45. Don’t buy into the “Ozil can’t handle the physical football” garbage. He’s using his muscle very well to retain possession and generate options in attack. Should have done so much better with the late ball in from Monreal.. MID

Never looked quite in sync with his teammates today. Deployed on the left before switching off on the right with Welbeck, he’s always a danger cutting in, but when Chelsea set up to defend, it’s difficult to do much at his favorite spot on the edge of the box. Misplayed a couple potential pivotal passes to kill moves, and hung onto the ball too long several times.  . MID. Arsenal FC. ALEXIS SANCHEZ. 7.7

7.6. Had a couple chances snatched off his feet, but he’s the right man for this type of match. Strong and physical, he held the ball up well and was a part of some sensational passing around the edge of the box to try and pick the Chelsea lock. Nothing doing today, though.. ST. Arsenal FC. OLIVIER GIROUD

Arsenal FC. DANNY WELBECK. 7.5. Had some rather good work in dangerous areas after coming on, and shouldn’t be criticized too harshly for his goal mouth whiff. There’s a real possibility he makes a return to the starting XI in the coming games.. ST

7.0. Came on late, touched the ball twice. Had one great early run that, had Cazorla seen it, would have seen him through on goal.. MID. Arsenal FC. THEO WALCOTT