Arsenal player ratings vs Leeds: 2-0 win books EFL quarter-final spot

Arsenal beat Leeds United 2-0 on Tuesday as goals from Calum Chambers and Eddie Nketiah secured victory in the EFL Cup and a spot in the quarter-finals.

Mikel Arteta made a number of changes from the recent win over Aston Villa with the need for rotation after three games in eight days, with Leicester also to come on Saturday lunchtime in the Premier League.

Bernd Leno returned in goal and Rob Holding also came into defence, while there was another start in the competition for Cedric Soares at right-back.

Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe were also handed starts in wide areas, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles coming into midfield for his first start since the previous EFL Cup outing with AFC Wimbledon.

Arsenal player ratings vs Leeds as Calum Chambers and Eddie Nketiah secure 2-0 Carabao Cup win to book quarter-final spot

As was seen in this stadium just a few days prior, Arsenal started with good intent as the three pacey forwards looking switched on.

That didn’t produce much in the way of threat as the only shot on target in the first half fell to Sead Kolasinac who was denied by Illan Meslier. In fact, were it not for Bernd Leno Arsenal would have found themselves behind and Leeds squandered some threatening positions.

The goal came for Arsenal, from another set piece of all places, through the unlikely head of Calum Chambers who’d been on for mere seconds after replacing Benjamin White. Nicklas Bendtner in disguise?

Eddie Nketiah brilliantly capitalised on Cooper’s awful header back with a delightful chip and some great control, before so nearly spoiling it was a dreadfully scuffed finish. Yet, it went in. Just. And 2-0 is how it would stay as Arsenal held on to book their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – 7/10 – Leno’s deliveries are  big step down from Ramsdale’s (he probably not helped by the first pass of the night going straight out of play) but when the ball was fizzed at him he made a couple of strong saves. Kept Arsenal in it.

Cedric Soares (RB) – 6/10 – Very reserved in this game and often was asked to be the third central defender. Didn’t provide Pepe with much support but after the break got forward with much more intent and added an option in behind.

Ben White (CB) – 8/10 – Oozed class. Looked completely at ease against one of his old clubs in and out of possession, with the moments on the ball brilliant carries into space whenever the pockets to feed weren’t there. Top drawer.

This injury is a big one.

Rob Holding (CB) – 7/10 – No points for guessing who he’s been watching in training. Some uncharacteristic charges out of defence with the ball at feet, it looked like Holding was trying to show the manager what he could do.

On the wrong side of defence he put in one of his usual ‘good central defender’ shifts.

Sead Kolasinac (LB) – 6/10 – Wins every ball in the air. Probably deserves mentioning. Otherwise, the Bosnian wasn’t atrocious by any means but didn’t provide Martinelli with enough.

Ended up at centre-back. How Carabao Cup is that?

Continued…

Midfielders

Mohamed Elneny (CM) – 6/10 – If anyone wanted to know why Elneny doesn’t pass forwards they need only watch this game back.

He made a couple of interceptions, it’s just not good for him finding himself in a transition game where the midfield was left to him too handle, which was the case in the first half.

Was fine after the break.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (CM) – 7/10 – Best player on the pitch for Arsenal other than White before his substitution, with Maitland-Niles both energetic and engaged in the middle of the park. He managed transitions well and showed some clever reading of the play to break up moves and try to kick start others.

Emile Smith Rowe (AM) – 6/10 – Added legs in the middle of the park but was hindered by the lack of running in behind. Too often the front three were so disconnected and asking for the ball to feet, limiting his options.

Continued…

Forwards

Nicolas Pepe (RW) – 5/10 – One of ‘those’ nights. Unbelievably predictable in possession and while he may have had the bit between his teeth, the ball struggled to stay between his feet.

He needed to make an impact on Tuesday, and while he did, it was not a positive one. But, in fairness, his defensive work in the second half was solid enough, so he avoids a really low score.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – 6/10 – Called for the ball to feet very often which would work as a plan if the rest of the team worked to accompany that. There weren’t enough runs in beyond or behind.

When he did get the ball Nketiah constantly tried to work Pascal Struijk, yet the link up with his fellow forwards was lacking, something that improved after the break as he ran all game. When his chance did come he took it half brilliantly, and half fortuitously: super first touches and a near horror second. It’s the goal that matters though.

Good shift.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 5/10 – On a big night for Martinelli, he came up short. Often left to make things happen on his own was distances too long, his efforts to come inside and work play, sometimes swapping position with Nketiah, failed to hit the mark.

Guilty of trying too hard? Perhaps. And even if he looked sharper as the game wore on, it wasn’t the impact he would have wanted.

Continued…

Substitutes

Calum Chambers – 7/10 – Scored with his first touch, not just since coming on, but since August. You could see what it meant for him and his teammates.

Alexandre Lacazette – 6/10 – Got stuck in with a few lovely touches that brought some calm the team.

Albert Sambi Lokonga – 6/10 – With Arsenal relinquishing much of possession it became more of a positional game for Sambi than anything.

Nuno Tavares – N/A – Replaced Holding but wasn’t on the pitch long enough for a rating.