Arsenal Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace: Winning Run Ends

Player ratings as Arsenal’s consecutive run of Premier League wins comes with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace.

A word to describe that performance? Leggy.

Almost every single Arsenal player looked tired tonight. Those who have provided a much needed attacking spark in recent times failed to influence the match and left-back Kieran Tierney‘s absence was certainly felt profoundly.

Defensively, Arsenal were relatively solid. Bernd Leno bailed out his defence on a couple of occasions in the first half but in the second Palace offered nothing offensively.

Tonight was just another example of Arsenal’s struggles in breaking down low blocks. Palace sat in admirably for the duration of the 90′ and the Gunners’ simply didn’t have the spark to split the south London side open.

Anyhow, onto the player ratings.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK)  – 8: Has to be Arsenal’s Man of The Match. Pulled off a quite brilliant save in the first-half from a looping Christian Benteke header to keep Arsenal in the game. Tidy distribution once again from the German.

Hector Bellerin (RB) – 5: A poor outing from the Spanish right-back. Despite sitting out the FA Cup victory against Newcastle, Bellerin looked leggy and unsure of himself in the final third. Despite containing, Zaha and Eze well at time, there’s work to be done for Arsenal’s no. 2.

Rob Holding (CB) – 6: Holding showed exactly why Arsenal tied him down to a new contract earlier this week. He delivered a more than adequate performance in the middle of the Arsenal defence. Nothing special but he did his job.

David Luiz (CB) – 6: Like Holding, Luiz did his job defensively. His performance against Newcastle in the FA Cup justified the start but expect Gabriel to turn when we face the Magpies again on Monday.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (LB) – 5: A disappointing night for Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Covering for Kieran Tierney wouldn’t be an easy task for many players but the Scot was dearly missed tonight. Maitland-Niles was far too lax in possession and didn’t offer enough going forward.

Midfielders

Dani Ceballos (CM) – 6: After starting the game really brightly, picking out some wonderful passes and breaking up play nicely, Ceballos’ influence diminished as the minutes wore on. The Spaniard was the obvious candidate to be withdrawn upon Thomas Partey‘s return with 20 minutes to play.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 6: A juxtaposing performance from Xhaka tonight. On the one hand, he made some absolutely essential defensive contributions in what was a defensive outing full of nous for the Swiss midfielder. On the other hand, his passing was often poor and unadventurous. Hot and cold.

Emile Smith Rowe (CAM) – 6: Failed to have his usual influence over the game. Palace clearly recognised him as a threat and ensured he couldn’t cause the creative havoc which has served Mikel Arteta so well in recent weeks. An outing that the youngster will learn from.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 6: Another player who suffered a drop off in performance levels tonight. After a series of brilliant outings, the teenagers’s output was bound to drop off at some point. Palace’s physical approach towards Saka certainly didn’t make things easy for him

Alex Lacazette (ST) – 5: Lacazette just didn’t get himself into the game tonight. The Frenchman, who has enjoyed some strong form lately, was marshalled out of the match by James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyaté who were relatively untroubled on the night.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (LW) – 5:  Yet another Premier League game which club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failed to influence. He failed to carry any momentum into this game which his goal against Newcastle may have given him. Much more needed than what he offered tonight.

Substitutes

Nicolas Pépé – 4: His task was to influence the game. He failed.

Thomas Partey – N/A: Not the sort of player who’s going to come on and change a game but good to see him back on the pitch.

Eddie Nketiah – N/A: Very little time to make an impact.