Arsenal player ratings vs Manchester United: Ronaldo nets brace in 3-2 defeat

Arsenal fell to defeat against Manchester United on Thursday as a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo secured the Red Devils a 3-2 victory in the Premier League.

Bouncing back from the Liverpool defeat to beat Newcastle 2-0 on home soil, Mikel Arteta had some interesting selections to make in his team, primarily at left-back.

The decision to play Nuno Tavares in that game proved to be one with an eye on the present as the Portuguese was handed another start ahead of the fit and returning Kieran Tierney.

In midfield he went with a surprising change as the partnership of Sambi Lokonga and Thomas Partey was broken up with Mohamed Elneny replacing he Belgian. Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard also kept his place at No. 10 and Bukayo Saka was not passed fit for the game meaning Gabriel Martinelli took his place on the right.

Arsenal player ratings vs Manchester United as Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice to hand Mikel Arteta’s side 3-2 Premier League defeat

Arsenal took the lead in what can only be described as historic fashion. The corner came in and Fred injured David de Gea, forcing him to the floor, and while on his touchline Emile Smith Rowe volleyed into the vacated net. Correctly, after an age, Martin Atkinson awarded the goal.

The visitors did their usual and began sitting off United, who for the most part were reduced to shots from distance. However, late on in the half Elneny failed to track the run of Fred in the box and he squared for Bruno Fernandes to equalise. A strong penalty shout on Tomiyasu shortly after was waved away.

After the break it took only seven minutes for United to get their noses in front when possession was turned over and Rashford cut a low ball back for Ronaldo to stroke home. Martin Odegaard struck back immediately however, wonderfully tucking home from Martinelli’s superb ball.

A moment of lunacy from Odegaard then gifted United a goal, that Ronaldo made no mistake tucking away.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 6/10 – His kicking was not at its best today as he opted to go long on a number of occasions right into the heads of United’s defenders. There were some saves that he made look comfortable, but could do nothing for any of the goals.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – 8/10 – Kept Jadon Sancho quiet throughout and offered real steel and assurance on the right side. Should have had a penalty in the first half but did his job brilliantly overall.

Benjamin White (CB) – 6/10 – Made one outstanding tackle in the box and cleaned up a few situations that looked threatening for the hosts. In possession found a few lovely clever balls, and he came within a whisker of opening the scoring, but was poor for United’s opener.

Gabriel Magalhaes (CB) – 6/10 – Was relatively strong across the ground and the covered his spaces well but had to come across to block the cross from Rashford to set up the second goal.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – 7/10 – Nuno came out to play. He was someone aiming to make things happen without a trigger from elsewhere. Made an effort to push Arsenal up the pitch whenever he received the ball but didn’t find much joy.

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Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – 4/10 – On the ball Partey was dreadful. There were a few smart touches in front of United players to break up play but when he had the ball at his feet and the pitch in front of him, his passing was so off target it brought on unnecessary pressure.

So sloppy. So what does he do? Get involved in the equaliser with a neat pass and was much improved after the break. That wasn’t hard to do, though.

Mohamed Elneny (CM) – 7/10 – Got one of the most bizarre assists he’ll ever see, and for the most part Elneny put in a really energetic and strong performance in the middle of the pitch.

He harried, closed down and kept things ticking over, yet allowing Fred to run across him as he did for the second goal on the night was so poor. But, let’s be honest, he was no he issue here.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 5/10 – Some of his play in the final third was very neat as he cleverly held on to the ball at the right times and triggered the press cleverly when United’s central defenders assumed possession. But, for the most part, he was uninvolved until a wonderfully taken goal to level matters at 2-2.

Growing into the game as he did and beginning to find pockets of space, a moment of idiocy gifted United the penalty for their third goal.

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Forwards

Gabriel Martinelli (RW) – 7/10 – Was bursting with energy as expected and hassled to every man on the ball just as he tried to make runs into space. His pass to set up Odegaard was a wonderfully weighted cut back where all he Norwegian had to do was guide it in.

Really took the game on after the break when he moved out to the left.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – 4/10 – Couldn’t hold the ball up which became a huge concern when Arsenal started sitting off after scoring. The natural urge to turn into a counter-attacking team is one that does not suit a striker who is not a centre-forward to ball sticks to with his back to goal.

That meant he offered little in build-up play and became a passenger. The ball never stuck to him.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) – 6/10 – Was one of the players in the team trying to create from nothing and open up avenues for Arsenal. Wasn’t given the time he wanted to drive in possession but kept plugging away and trying to attack the half spaces, but just couldn’t make the impact he wanted.

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Substitutes

Bukayo Saka – 5/10 – Came on and saw Martinelli move out to the left as he shifted onto his favoured right, adding some security in that zone but couldn’t do more with two presentable openings.

Eddie Nketiah – N/A – Fresh from rejecting a new contract, Nketiah came on late for his first minutes in the Premier League. Wasn’t on long enough to impact the game.

Alexandre Lacazette – N/A – A change many were calling for earlier made little impact. Lacazette didn’t look sharp, but he wasn’t on long enough for a rating.