Arsenal Player Ratings vs Wolves: Gunners See Red Twice

Arsenal, Hector Bellerin — WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 02: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 02, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arguably the strangest Premier League match of the season took place this evening as Arsenal lost 2-1 against Wolves. Both David Luiz and Bernd Leno were sent off for denying goal scoring opportunities.

Nevertheless, Arsenal were nothing short of brilliant prior to Luiz‘s red card. Nicolas Pépé’s superb first half goal was well deserved after the team came close to opening the scoring on numerous occasions.

Then, red.

David Luiz accidentally took away Willian José’s legs, red. Goal neves. Half-time. Moutinho scores the goal of his career. Then Bernd Leno comically handled the ball outside the penalty area, red. Just farcical.

Arsenal player ratings vs Wolves

Arsenal, Bernd Leno — Arsenal’s German goalkeeper Bernd Leno (Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Goakeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – 1: I have absolutely no words. Absolutely none. Unbelievably stupid.

Hector Bellerin (RB) – 6: The Spanish right-back was part of a really impressive first-half performance. Regularly offering an attacking threat and dealing with Petro Neto adequately. Arsenal’s best defender on the night.

Rob Holding (CB) – 5: Caught out of position prior to David Luiz giving away the first half penalty. Also pretty poor on the ball. However, he was solid in the air at set pieces.

David Luiz (CB) – 1: I’ve never cited my own footballing experience in an article before but at this point I feel obliged to. I’ve been a centre-back since I was 11 and I’ve given away a number of penalties in a similar fashion to how David Luiz did today.

It’s an incredibly frustrating way to give commit a foul. You run across the back of someone’s legs and accidentally clip them. You just have to learn not to run that risk. David Luiz has never learned despite regularly making the same mistake. The 1 is generous. Such a costly error.

Çedric (LB) – 4: With ten men, keeping things simple is essential. Çedric didn’t seem to know that tonight. Constantly trying to switch the play and taking shots from way too far out. I appreciate it’s difficult as a right-footer at left-back, but the Portuguese certainly didn’t cover himself in glory tonight.