Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Leeds United: Player ratings – Reiss Nelson to the rescue

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Reiss Nelson of Arsenal scores his side's first goal past Illan Meslier of Leeds United during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Reiss Nelson of Arsenal scores his side's first goal past Illan Meslier of Leeds United during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 06: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal stretches to control the ball under pressure from Gaetano Berardi of Leeds United during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 06: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal stretches to control the ball under pressure from Gaetano Berardi of Leeds United during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

Front Three

6.0. Struggled to get into the game with little service from deep, did not work especially hard. Then he produced the crucial driving run in the build-up to the goal, beating a couple of defenders and driving into open space. This is the Pepe conundrum: quiet, not the hardest working, but capable of inspirational, rare moments. In the end, he was fine, the good mostly cancelling out the bad, but Arteta will want more consistency and commitment in the future.. RW. Arsenal. NICOLAS PEPE

7.5. MAN OF THE MATCH: The brightest spark in a rather dull performance. Even in the difficult first half, Nelson was the most lively. Dribbled sharply and directly, ran in behind, was composed when receiving the ball under pressure, and just needed a clinical end product to round out his performance. He continued in the same vein after the break, bundling in the opener with a scruffy finish. A very encouraging performance.. LW. Arsenal. REISS NELSON

7.0. Isolated in the first half, struggling to hold up the ball and pressing aimlessly as his teammates sat too deep behind him. Superb in the second half, holding off defenders to protect the ball, assisting Reiss Nelson for the only goal of the game, and working tirelessly defensively too. Still needs confidence in front of goal, squandering a couple of openings, but his all-around play is excellent.. ST. Arsenal. ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE