Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal 4-1 Molde Player Ratings: Strong Side Pays Off

By Ross Kennerley

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Will Oliver / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by WILL OLIVER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Will Oliver / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by WILL OLIVER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Pepe has to step up for Arsenal
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) /

Forwards

Nicolas Pepe (RW) – 6/10 – On the ball, wasteful. Off the ball, bang average. Honestly, the time has been running out for a while but there can only be a few grains of sand left in the timer. Even if you ignore the price tag, he’s so underwhelming. It was a poor night from Pepe (again) but he popped up with a good goal (again). Every time you want to slate him with the shackles off, he does something like that.

As Molde committed men he had far more freedom to play into, where he was significantly more dangerous (and exciting!), but that’s needed throughout, not when you’re 3-1 up.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – 5/10 – Tough evening for the striker who was left to watch on for large periods with so much of the play taking place in wide areas. Was inexcusably denied a trademark Nketiah goal when the linesman thought he’d touched the ball over Willock in the first half.

Willian (LW) – 6/10 – Looked tired, in all honesty. Had a great game at Old Trafford but needed to extra minutes tonight, and while he gave the ball away a few too many times, he did all the basics well in regards to link-up play and tracking runners. Came off early with an eye on Sunday.

Substitutes

Bukayo Saka – 8/10 – So classy. Everything he does oozes class, with it taking him a matter of seconds to set up Pepe for the third goal with a delightful ball on the edge of the box.

Cedric Soares – 7/10 – Came on and made some great runs forward to ease the pressure on his teammates. Looked well up for it on and off the ball.

Mohamed Elneny – 7/10 – Did what was asked of him well in the small time he was on.

Kieran Tierney – 7/10 – Can’t really say too much as he didn’t touch the ball all that often.

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