Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Player Ratings

Arsenal failed to secure a victory at the Emirates once again against their London rivals Crystal Palace. Here are Pain In the Arsenal’s Player Ratings.

Yet again, Arsenal failed to take advantage of lesser opposition at the Emirates. A Crystal Palace side that have only managed one win in 2016 came to Arsenal’s home ground and stole a point, thanks to an equalizer from winger Yannick Bolasie with ten minutes to go.

Arsenal had a massive share of possession for the entirety of the game, but they failed to make it count for the most part. Thanks to a tackle made high up the pitch on the cusp of half-time, Danny Welbeck chipped a ball through for Alexis Sanchez, who headed the Gunners into a lead.

In the second half there was a very anxious atmosphere around the stadium, due to not only the lack of directness Arsenal had when they were in possession, but their imbalance between attack and defense that was on display every time they lost the ball.

Their lack of balance proved costly in the end, as Congolese winger Yannick Bolasie faked out Francis Coquelin to free himself up and fired past Petr Cech at Cech’s near post. The late goal destroyed the emotions of the fans at the Emirates, and it represented exactly what Arsenal’s season has been like in 2015-16.

Only had a couple of corners and two shots on target to deal with, but failed to stop a daisy-cutter from Bolasie that flew in at his near post late on. Cech needs more match fitness in order to get back to his best – debatable, but Ospina might have saved that Bolasie drive.. GK. Arsenal FC. PETR CECH. 6.6

6.7. Got in great positions over an over again, but failed to make it count and didn’t do anything with his final balls. Perhaps if a target man like Olivier Giroud had been in the center, he would have had more to aim at. However, Alexis Sanchez was the man who made <a href=. RB. Arsenal FC. HECTOR BELLERIN

LAURENT KOSCIELNY. 7.0. Won six aerial duels as well as cleaning up a few messy situations in defense. Had a less active game than his partner, but still was imposing at times when Palace advanced. However, as the game wore on the Arsenal defense looked less and less composed, a hugely worrying sign. By the end of the game, Koscielny hadn’t made any big mistakes but his team had just conceded. Overall, the Frenchman could do more to organize his defensive line.. CB. Arsenal FC

7.4. Doesn’t speak fluent English yet, but definitely knows how to clash with English players when they step to him. Made two poor judgements, one in the first half when he tried to take out Bolasie, the second one in the second half when he didn’t attempt to block a Bolasie shot that ended up going in. Made five tackles as well as six aerial challenges and looked up for the game. But he needs more composure and he needs to be able to read the game better.. CB. Arsenal FC. GABRIEL PAULISTA

6.7. Didn’t make many defensive actions, and also failed to deliver any great balls into the box for his teammates. More could be said about the average nature of Monreal’s performance, but it’s easier to just say that he was extremely average. Lack of continuous intensity when running down the flank, and also failed to make an impact on the defensive end.. LB. Arsenal FC. NACHO MONREAL

7.0. Made a number of good tackles as well as a number of good passes, but didn’t have crazy stats due to a lack of defensive duty today. In a game like this, Coquelin’s real duty is to stop the counter attacks when they come, and he didn’t do that today. Focus over ninety minutes is key, and he didn’t have that.. MID. Arsenal FC. FRANCIS COQUELIN

MOHAMED EL NENY. 6.6. Made plenty of good passes, and a few nice long passes to boot, that opened up space for his teammates. Didn’t manage to test Wayne Hennessey with any serious shots, and also didn’t manage to move the ball quick enough to break down the Palace defense. El Neny needs to learn more about the fast pace of the Premier League. As we can see, he is learning – however, not quite fast enough to be the man to be relied on just yet.. MID. Arsenal FC

7.2. The spin Ozil puts on the ball with his left foot is so incredible that his teammates don’t often know how to control it. The German made a number of great passes that didn’t have adequate finishes, and also didn’t quite have the finish in the first half when Sanchez played him in. Needs to have some better corner deliveries if he wants his team to score from those set pieces, and (if this is even possible) also needs to play balls that can kill off a poor side, rather than continuing to toy with them. Star players need to make the big plays.. MID. Arsenal FC. MESUT OZIL

7.6. MAN OF THE MATCH. Was an effective attacker throughout the game, constantly a threat to the Palace defense and constantly moving with/without the ball. Scored a looping header to put the Gunners ahead, and made a number of good headers to set up other players, but didn’t do a whole lot with his shooting using his feet. Even though he has three goals in three games, it still doesn’t seem like the Chilean has hit top form once again. His dribbling and shooting is still shaky at times, but definitely getting better game by game.. MID. Arsenal FC. ALEXIS SANCHEZ

Iwobi had less of an impact on the match as he did against Everton or Watford, but still provided a direct threat throughout his time on the pitch (he was subbed off for Aaron Ramsey in the second half) and caused problems when in good positions. Placed out on the flanks in Arsenal’s slow build-up today, he was less of a threat as he has been on the counter attack, or playing through the center. Arsene Wenger will find Iwobi’s role eventually.. MID. Arsenal FC. ALEX IWOBI. 6.9

7.3. Gave a beautiful assist to Alexis Sanchez at the end of the first half, and on the whole played with a lot of confidence. Even though Palace sat very deep for the majority of the game, he was always trying to either run at the defense or run in behind the defense. His rating would obviously be much higher if one of his five shots hit the back of the net, and that’s the area he really needs to improve in. Finishing chances. as some of them were on a plate for such a confident striker today.. ST. Arsenal FC. DANNY WELBECK

6.0. Came on in the second half – presumably to score a goal – and didn’t do anything. One might think that as a substitute you were supposed to try and impress the manager into giving you a start, but Olivier Giroud obviously doesn’t think this way.. ST. Arsenal FC. OLIVIER GIROUD

6.0. Did a whole lot of nothing after coming on. Didn’t look confident on the ball, wasn’t ready to spring some sort of attack from regaining possession, didn’t actively win the ball back. Seems like he’s already on holiday.. MID. Arsenal FC. THEO WALCOTT

6.3. Looked somewhat lively after coming on as a substitute for Iwobi. Throwing reputation and careers out the window, it doesn’t seem at the moment like there’s any reason to bring him on over any of the other Arsenal midfielders. Not especially good in any key areas. Perhaps if he was given more starts he might hit some form – as he usually does at the end of the season, when the pressure is off – but not on song at the moment.. MID. Arsenal FC. AARON RAMSEY