Arsenal player ratings vs Brighton: Gunners scrape 0-0 draw

Arsenal scraped a 0-0 draw against Brighton on Saturday evening as a limp performance from Mikel Arteta’s side ended without a winner.

Mikel Arteta, fresh off the back of a resounding 3-1 win over Tottenham in the North London Derby, headed to the south coast with only one absentee.

Granit Xhaka’s knee injury will rule him out of action for the remainder of the calendar year, and having started last time out in the Premier League the only change in the starting lineup was to bring in Albert Sambi Lokonga into midfield.

Arsenal struggled to find any rhythm in the swirling wind and pouring rain, whereas the home side were far more positive and comfortable. It was the Seagulls who nearly took the lead too, as Aaron Ramsdale spilled a cross into Lewis Dunk’s path, only for the defender to blaze wide.

Arsenal player ratings vs Brighton as limp performance from Mikel Arteta’s side sees the Gunners scrape a 0-0 Premier League draw

More chances fell by the way of the home side who dominated the game and had Arsenal scrambling on a number of occasions, somehow unable to score in the opening 45 minutes.

The second half didn’t change all too much with Brighton still the more likely team to score, even if their efforts at target failed to test Ramsdale in net.

Arteta had to change things around and did so by bringing on Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette, with the latter finally giving Arsenal an outlet in central areas who could control possession.

More chances fell for the home side as Emile Smith Rowe came closest for the Gunners, in what ended up being an away point Arteta’s side did not deserve.

Arsenal Goalkeeper & Defenders Ratings

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 7/10 – Fumbled cross aside, Ramsdale’s distribution wasn’t at the standard he’s set himself in his short Gunners career. Still, when called upon he did his job and made one strong save from Cucurella and then a vital intervention near the end. Made himself big.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – 4/10 – If Burnley wasn’t the ‘welcome to the Premier League’ fixture, then this one was for Tomiyasu. Caught out in possession on a number of occasions his choice of pass was also lacking. Really struggled out there. It was if he forgot the studs in his boots.

Ben White (CB) – 7/10 – Not a happy homecoming for White who was under the cosh for long periods of the game, although he stood tall to most of it. From a defensive point of view he made numerous headed and kicked clearances, yet on the ball his distribution wasn’t quite where it needed to be. Nonetheless, defensively very solid.

Gabriel Magalhaes (CB) – 7/10 – Another strong outing for Gabriel who didn’t look flustered in the defence, particularly in the first half where Brighton were piling men forward. Some big headers.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – 5/10 – Tasked with being as advanced as usual, Tierney managed to get in behind on a few occasions and made a few strong recovery runs out of possession. Still, it was his area of the pitch where Brighton found most joy and his quality on the ball was lacking.

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – 5/10 – That free-kick….Why do that?

As for the game, Partey tried to wrestle control but the Brighton press was too strong and had Arsenal unable to progress either from deep or in midfield. In the second half he was much more involved but this was more Fiat 500 than Rolls Royce.

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – 5/10 – Looked very lost in that first half. Having been asked to cover the space vacated by Kieran Tierney when he charged forward, there was no control on that area of the pitch.

He couldn’t gain a foothold but as the game wore on he grew into proceedings.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 5/10 – His touch abandoned him. He left it in north London.

The usually technically assured Odegaard could not find any rhythm in the centre of the park and as the link between the lines he lost possession far too often in positions of threat.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 6/10 – One of the shining lights for Arsenal who threatened every time he got on the ball. Found joy against Dan Burn on a number of occasions just wasn’t found enough.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – 3/10 – As good as he was in the North London Derby, Aubameyang was as bad at the Amex Stadium.

It was as if his shoes were made of balloons. Nothing stuck to him, his touch was dreadful and the intensity seemed to drain out of him. It was not good.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) – 7/10 – Constantly driving with the ball at every opportunity, it was Smith Rowe who was willing his team on with positivity bursting in every touch. Just didn’t have the same level of technical security and quality around him.

Arsenal Substitutes

Nicolas Pepe – 5/10 – Barely got a sniff after coming on. Was brought on to add some richly needed directness but couldn’t get involved.

Alexandre Lacazette – 7/10 – Couple of neat moves dropping deep where he linked play strongly, helping progress Arsenal up the pitch with numbers. Really changed the game with his introduction and finally there was a central figure who the ball could stick to.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – N/A – Not on long enough for a rating.