Arsenal player ratings vs Slavia Prague: Lacazette double in 4-0 rout

Arsenal obliterated Slavia Prague on Thursday night in their Europa League quarter-final second leg at the Sinobo Stadium, with goals from Nicolas Pepe, Alexandre Lacazette and Bukayo Saka sealing a 4-0 win and progression to the Europa League semi-finals.

After a confidence boosting win over Sheffield United last time out, Mikel Arteta had mixed news on the absentee front with Emile Smith Rowe fit to play but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Martin Odegaard unavailable.

Arteta used the same system as at Bramall Lane with Granit Xhaka at left-back as Arsenal got their bearings early on then tore apart a beleaguered Slavia Prague.

Emile Smith Rowe thought he’d netted the opener after Bukayo Saka’s curling effort struck the post and fell into his path, with a lengthy VAR review ruling him out for offside. Believing it may become one of those nights, Arsenal kept their foot firmly on the pedal and got a deserved opener.

Arsenal player ratings vs Slavia Prague for Europa League quarter-final second leg on Thursday as Saka, Pepe and Lacazette score in 4-0 win

Some majestic footwork from Smith Rowe fed in Nicolas Pepe who showed immense composure to finish high into the net from close range. Within a blink of an eye it was two as Saka was hauled down in the penalty area, with Mr. Cool Alexandre Lacazette making no mistake.

Dreamland then turned to fantasyland three minutes later as Saka drove with the ball before unleashing a lovely daisy-cutter into the bottom corner. Just 24 minutes on the clock.

In total command of the game from thereon in, Slavia made four changes at the break but their spirits were already broken. Arsenal didn’t have to chase, or force anything of note, and they coasted their way to victory from the 24th minute onwards with Lacazette adding a fourth from Pepe’s cross.

That’s it. Arsenal vs Villarreal. Mikel Arteta vs Unai Emery. It’s going to be tasty.

Arsenal Goalkeeper & Defenders Ratings

Bernd Leno (GK) – 7/10 – Some of his kicking was somewhat dodgy while other times precise, and the German had precious little to do as Arsenal utterly dominated their opponents.

Calum Chambers (RB) – 8/10 – Calberto Chalos. Calphonso Davies. Whatever you want to call him, Chambers was magnificent on the right side with delicate footwork combined with some excellent distribution and defensive positioning. Performances like this one take him off the summer sale list.

Rob Holding (CB) – 8/10 – Don’t mess with Rob Holding, he will laugh in your face. There were a couple of loose passes early from Holding but they are not a scratch on the solidity he brought to the heart of defence alongside Mari. Pushed slightly further forward than the Spaniard as Arsenal adopted a defensive triangle, he linked well with Chambers on the right side.

If you’re in a battle, you want Holding by your side.

Pablo Mari (CB) – 8/10 – The Spaniard has likely cemented his place in the Europa League starting lineup for the rest of the season now off the back of two excellent outings. Offering a composure that Gabriel can lack, sitting as the deepest central defender he can let his calmness on the ball pick out a teammate and avoid being caught out in behind.

Granit Xhaka (LB) – 8/10 – Used in a genius way to help Arsenal build from the back without Kieran Tierney, the professionalism of Xhaka and the tactical invention from Mikel Arteta both need praising. He adds a security on the ball that few others in the squad can.

Arsenal Midfielders Ratings

Thomas Partey (CM) – 8/10 – In similar vein to how the team set up against Sheffield United, Partey acted as the single pivot in the centre of the park and was just as commanding in that position as he had been at Bramall Lane.

Building, holding and manning the fort, he didn’t give Slavia a blade of grass.

Dani Ceballos (CM) – 8/10 – Two solid performances? In a row? Really?

Do not scratch your eyes and Dani Ceballos was superb for the second game running as a floating No. 8 to the left of Partey, with all his silkier elements and freedom of expression being used for better both in playing out of tight situations and building triangles out wide.

Emile Smith Rowe (AM) – 9/10 – What is there to say that hasn’t already been said? What a magnificent talent who, if all ends in disaster this season, will be one of the few bright notes. How far he’s come from earning his first start of the season against Chelsea to where he is now is remarkable.

His understanding of space, immaculate quality on the ball, reading of danger, spatial awareness…the list goes on. Smith Rowe was spectacular.

Arsenal Forwards Ratings

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 8/10 – Magnificent outing from Saka who will be in the nightmares of the entire Slavia Prague back five…and the rest.

His movement across the frontline and the intelligence of each motion never ceases to amaze. Knowing when to press, who to mark, which areas to attack and where the danger zones are, he wreaked havoc in tandem with Smith Rowe and left Slavia Prague chasing shadows.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – 9/10 – Lacazette doesn’t miss penalties. Just for his tip-toe technique alone he can score highly but overall it was the – captain’s on this occasion – performance that supporters have become to expect from the Frenchman in ‘big’ games. His second goal was a true confidence finish.

He was always going to turn up. It was even more noticeable when he stared down the opposition as he took a knee before kick-off.

Nicolas Pepe (LW) – 8.5/10 – Started off looking nervous when faced one-on-one with Bah, yet quickly came out of his shell and did excellently providing the balance on the left flank that would normally have been aided by Tierney’s presence.

So calm and so clinical, he took his goal with 2018/19 levels of composure. Carrying on from Bramall Lane, he was the direct presence needed to match Lacazette. Deserves a rarely dished out half point.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1382792331796025347

Arsenal Substitutes Ratings

Mohamed Elneny – 6/10 – Came on and pressed and harried throughout, chasing each ball and keeping things ticking over nicely.

Cedric Soares – 6/10 – Solid at the back.

Gabriel Martinelli – 7/10 – Ran his socks off as usual. Got a bizarre yellow card and also came within a whisker of a superb fifth goal.

Eddie Nketiah – 6/10 – Barely saw the ball and possibly came on to keep him in the picture ahead of the summer transfer window.

Folarin Balogun – N/A – Great to see him come on even if only briefly. His time will come and it’s exciting to see.