England player ratings vs San Marino: Smith Rowe & Saka net in 10-0 rout

An England side featuring Arsenal trio Aaron Ramsdale, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka secured their place in the 2022 World Cup finals after a remarkable 10-0 win over San Marino saw them clinch top spot in Group I.

Fresh from making his senior Three Lions debut in the second half against Albania, the Premier League‘s in form player in Smith Rowe got his first start in Gareth Southgate’s three-man forward line.

Bukayo Saka took his placed on the left of the midfield four in the 3-4-3 shape, while a first ever England appearance for Aaron Ramsdale saw him start in goal ahead of Jordan Pickford, and crucially Sam Johnstone, who he appears to have overtaken in the pecking order.

When was the last time three or more Arsenal players started in an England senior match together? You have to go back to October 2014, when Calum Chambers, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck all started in a 5-0 win…..over San Marino.

Arsenal & England player ratings vs San Marino as Emile Smith Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka all feature in 10-0 World Cup qualifying victory

Harry Maguire got the inevitable ball rolling with a bullet header from a corner, just before a deflected strike from Saka made it two. Smith Rowe fed the Arsenal man in the box, who cut onto his right foot and saw his tame effort trickle in via the defender’s legs…for an own goal.

The goals kept on raining in with Harry Kane grabbing four first half goals, the most important of which came via a Smith Rowe assist, who returned the favour after Kane assisted Saka in the North London Derby.

After the break was the moment everyone had been waiting for. Saka’s cross was delicately flicked on to Smith Rowe by Tammy Abraham, and the Hale Ender confidently finished into the bottom corner for his first England goal.

Tyrone Mings added an eighth not long after, and then Tammy Abraham made it nine, and then Bukayo Saka made it ten. Another delightful delivery from Alexander-Arnold was met by the star boy’s head, who made no mistake from close range.

A record breaking night where Hale End made their mark was never a contest, in truth. The gulf in class is stark. Yet, nonetheless, England are going to the World Cup – and with them a few Arsenal lads.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 7/10 – Was magnificent and repelled everything that San Marino threw at him. Had an answer for every shot they didn’t take and each cross that didn’t fly into his box.

But no, as was to be expected, there was precious little (nothing) for Ramsdale to do Monday night. England totally dominated the ball and while this is a game that will live long in the memory – his family were in attendance – the focus was almost entirely on the other goal.

There was one save, mind you, but the transition from San Marino to Liverpool at Anfield might be one of the most violent a goalkeeper has ever faced.

Hey, a clean sheet is a clean sheet.

Tyrone Mings (CB) – 8/10 – Gets in ahead of Benjamin White. Some reasoning behind this would be most welcome. He’s alright, and was alright on the night, although his header was more than alright. Lovely angled flick.

Conor Coady (CB) – 6/10 – Lovely guy and a very decent defender. Is he the future of this England team? That he is not. Still, had little to do and did his job as well as he needed to.

Harry Maguire (CB) – 7/10 – A couple of classically ‘Maguire’ moments, but also charged out of defence well and played a few decent passes out to the left.

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Midfielders & Wing-Backs

Trent Alexander-Arnold (RWB) – 8/10 – Was much less involved with all of England’s play coming down the left side in the first half, where his passing was uncharacteristically sloppy. That changed after the break, though, and he chipped in with three glorious assists.

Jude Bellingham (CM) – 7/10 – Such class on and off the ball. Arsenal should have moved heaven and earth to sign him ahead of Borussia Dortmund.

Kalvin Phillips (CM) – 8/10 – Played a delightful pass into Smith Rowe and was instrumental in midfield as the Three Lions controlled every aspect of the game.

Bukayo Saka (LWB) – 8/10 – Did any of England’s attacks come down the right?

It was the Saka show against San Marino, as he turned his man inside out on numerous occasions and had the pace to burn in what was barely a left wing-back role considering how much possession England saw. A lively afternoon for the England regular featured numerous delightful first touches, and where he was unlucky not to get a goal in the first half.

Southgate had clearly been watching Arteta’s Arsenal as he went 4-4-2 with Saka back on on his favoured right side after the break, where he continued to cause havoc and then he finally got his goal with his head.

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Forwards

Phil Foden (RW) – 8/10 – Silky, suave and secure, whatever England do moving forward they need to find a way of incorporating Foden into the team. He wasn’t a regular in the Euros but the ability the Man City man has is mesmeric.

Harry Kane (ST) – 9/10 – Rating Kane on an Arsenal-based site? Consider the bullet firmly bitten. After all, he did score a fair few goals.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) – 9/10 – Do not get touch tight to Smith Rowe. Whoever does the pre-match analysis (or just the team talk) for San Marino should really have drilled this into the players.

He turned his man inside and out on numerous occasions, made some clever runs, grabbed an assist and then marked his first start for England with a brilliantly taken goal. It was the movement he’s mastering for Arsenal, making a late run into the box and finishing with aplomb.

It was a goal he richly deserved on a night he will never forget. First England start, first England assist, and first England goal.

Special player.

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Substitutes

Conor Gallagher – 7/10 – A richly deserved debut for Gallagher who has been in exceptional form for Crystal Palace under Patrick Vieira this season. Looked sharp.

Ben Chilwell – 6/10 – Came on as a second half substitute and ended up playing in just about any position he wanted with no defending required.

Tammy Abraham – 8/10 – What could have been? Abraham’s delightful flick from Saka’s cross was perfectly weighted for Smith Rowe to grab England’s fourth.

Could that have been at Arsenal this season? Mikel Arteta sure wanted to make it happen.

John Stones – N/A – Was on for 20 minutes but had nothing to do.