Arsenal vs Wolves Player Ratings: When Will it End?

Arsenal slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Wolves in Sunday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

With just one win in the last five league outings, Arsenal were in desperate need of securing three points to avoid falling further afield in the race for a top four place.

The games was impacted early on with a nasty clash of head involving David Luiz and Raul Jimenez, the latter being rushed to hospital after a ten-minute delay. We wish him all the best.

Arsenal never looked at it even before the stoppage, trudging through the game with no urgency or inspiration anywhere. Wolves’ bright forward play saw them grab the opener following a rebound from the crossbar, although less than three minutes later Gabriel Magalhaes rose highest to head home from Willian’s cross.

That goal came out of nowhere and Arsenal never looked like kicking on, with Daniel Podence showcasing a divine piece of skill to put the visitors back in front.

Passes astray and desire nonexistent, the second half saw only the slightest of improvement. How much of that was Arsenal and not Wolves sitting off is hardly a fair debate.

Another home game, another dire, painful 90 minutes of viewing. Here are your player ratings.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – 6/10 – Fumbled Wolves’ second goal but the deflection worked against him. Made a good stop in the first half to deny Conor Coady, one of few efforts he had to stop. His passing was accurate, although hardly influential.

Hector Bellerin (RB) – 3/10 – Didn’t misplace too many passes. Some of his defensive decision making, however, was woeful. For Wolves’ second goal his decision to run full pelt at David Luiz was bemusing, while for the opener he lost his man following the rebound.

David Luiz (CB) – 3/10 – Shouldn’t have stayed on the pitch. The decision to allow him to continue with blood pouring out of his bandages and the severity of the initial clash of heads begs belief. Regarding his game, some of his positioning did not indicate he was someone aware of what was going on.

Gabriel Magalhaes (CB) – 6/10 – Scored the goal and was Arsenal’s best player. Put his body on the line, covered ground well and tried to get things ticking over with passes down the line. Got rinsed for the second goal but with a midfield so easily bypassed he’s asked to do too much.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – 3/10 – Will be having nightmares of Adama Traore when he goes to sleep. Was getting bullied by the Spaniard all evening. Looked fatigued from the off.

Midfielders

Dani Ceballos (CM) – 3/10 – Exceedingly poor from Ceballos all evening. Passes astray, caught in no man’s land and wildly unfocused. He let Wolves play through him all evening.

Joe Willock (AM) – 3/10 – His distribution was all over the place. Rarely ever found his man and even if he did the pass was poorly weighted or difficult to control. Improved after the break with more direct running, but it’s not enough.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 1/10 – Has he played worse? Probably not. Nothing, repeat, nothing, he did was acceptable. Slow, uninterested and detrimental. Truly appalling.

Forwards

Willian (RW) – 4/10 – Grabbed the assist and played a few okay deliveries throughout. He just has no chemistry with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. None at all. It becomes tougher each week to see how he can justify a place in the team over the likes of Reiss Nelson.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – 2/10 – Did he play? Another appearance of anonymity for the captain who never even saw the ball let alone touched it. We want Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang playing through the middle but only if he can touch the ball. Remarkably, he’s managed to be less involved than he was down the flank. So worrying, as was the general demeanour. Exceedingly poor display.

Bukayo Saka (LW) – 5/10 – As with everyone, a forgettable night for Saka. As ever he was the most lively and dangerous of the entire side, which is even more commendable given he’s barely trained since Leeds. He picked up some good opportunities but Arsenal sorely lacked his spark in the midfield.

Substitutes

Rob Holding – 6/10 – Did better than David Luiz but he was given less to do with Wolves gradually sitting further off Arsenal.

Reiss Nelson – 6/10 – Looked lively when he came on but spurned a decent chance to draw Arsenal level when his half-volley  flew over the bar from close distance. Made direct runs through the Wolves defence which were not forthcoming prior.

Alexandre Lacazette – N/A – Wasn’t on long enough for a rating.