Arsenal player ratings vs Man City: Arteta on the brink after 5-0 defeat

Arsenal fell to a 5-0 defeat against Manchester City in Saturday afternoon’s Premier League meeting as Pep Guardiola’s side crushed the ten-men Gunners, leaving Mikel Arteta’s job on the brink.

The manager opted to field a side nothing even remotely like the one expected pre-match at the Etihad, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starting up front following his hat-trick away at West Brom, while Bernd Leno returned in place of Aaron Ramsdale.

There was also a second Premier League debut for Martin Odegaard in the side with Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka taking up the wide berths in a 3-4-3 setup.

Arsenal, believe it or not, started strongly. Keeping possession and looking confident, that all unravelled as a dreadfully defended cross, one with no power on, was easily headed home by Ilkay Gundogan.

Arsenal player ratings vs Manchester City as Granit Xhaka is sent off in crushing 5-0 defeat with Mikel Arteta left on the brink of his job

With 12 minutes on the clock, it was 2-0. A floated ball into the box was knocked on by Cedric and fell into the path of Ferran Torres who had a simple tap in. This despite Calum Chambers blatantly being struck in the face by Aymeric Laporte.

It all began falling apart as the level-headed Granit Xhaka saw red card after stupidly leaving the ground with his studs up, despite winning the ball, which was followed by Jack Grealish making mincemeat of the defence before setting up Gabriel Jesus.

Eight minutes after the break Rodri curled home delightful fourth, as Arsenal fans began celebrating ironically.

Arsenal proceeded to not touch the ball at all for the remainder of the game, staying in their own third and being passed to death. It was excruciating. Absolutely woeful. Torres got a fifth.

Arsenal Goalkeeper & Central Defenders Ratings

Bernd Leno (GK) – 5/10 – Couldn’t really have done too much for any of the three goals – some better positioning perhaps – due to the abject defending in front of him. Made one lovely save from Raheem Sterling. Kept the score at a respectable five.

But, where was the communication? Defenders and goalkeeper never had any organisation. Who is taking charge?

Calum Chambers (CB) – 1/10 – Beaten in the air by one of the shortest players on the pitch for the opening goal and then all at sea for the remainder of the game. Was being torn to shreds by whichever Man City forward had the ball.

Transfer market for a right-back, please.

Rob Holding (CB) – 2/10 – Someone who you might actually believe could be reliable to win aerial balls..didn’t. For the third goal, he comes out to the ball in the same zone Leno is in and leaves his man open for a tap in.

This is 2021. Why have Arsenal still got the same defenders they had in 2017? The same ones that weren’t good enough then?

Sead Kolasinac (CB) – 2/10 – This is Arsenal Football Club. Standards are gone.

Was all over the shop in the back three but, to his credit, at least he tried to press and move around. Shame he isn’t very good at any of that. Not Premier League level. Fenerbahce will retract their contract offer.

Arsenal Midfielders & Wing-Backs Ratings

Cedric Soares (RWB) – 1/10 – About as low as you score without given a zero. The only reason he doesn’t get naught is because he has legs and actually stood on the pitch.

That said, Cedric didn’t look like a man who wanted to be there. His brilliant assist for the second goal aside, his movement, touches and positioning (hold the line, maybe?) were all utterly atrocious. If anybody wanted him on loan before the deadline day, they’ve changed their mind.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 2/10 – Kept showing for the ball at all times even if Odegaard ended up playing as the deepest of the midfielders to try and progress from that area.

Yet when the going gets tough, you need your senior players to step up, to face adversity and to show leadership, not lunge off the ground with your studs showing out of frustration. There are no words.

Martin Odegaard (CM) – 4/10 – Did everything he could and in the opening seven or so minutes he looked like having a big influence on the game, were it to have been anything even remotely resembling a contest.

Was nonetheless trying to direct his teammates around the pitch and bust a gut defensively.

Kieran Tierney (LWB) – 4/10 – Covered spaces on the left relatively well, but what could he do? Kolasinac was so compact centrally he had so much space to defend. Left his boyhood club and signed a new contract this summer to play with Kolasinac, Chambers, Holding and Cedric.

Someone had some bottle.

Arsenal Forwards Ratings

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 3/10 – The forward players on the afternoon were given mitigation for the atrocities behind them, and Saka in this case tried his heart out to force the issue with some drives and carries, but was regularly left with a sea of bodies in front of him and nowhere to go.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – 2/10 – Didn’t touch the ball. And when he did it wasn’t great.

Totally isolated even during those opening five or so minutes. He was clearly disheartened by the debacle he watched unfold. A passenger on the day.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) – 3/10 – Tried. Pushed. Forced. To no avail.

Arsenal Substitutes Ratings

Mohamed Elneny – 2/10 – Shied away from Rodri’s shot at goal, had nothing to offer. But then again, did anyone expect differently?

Alexandre Lacazette – 3/10 – An isolated figure after replacing Aubameyang, rarely ever seeing the ball, let alone touching it.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – N/A – Came on for Odegaard likely just to protect the Norwegian, and Maitland-Niles, by no fault of his own, just slotted into the mess he saw previously.