Arsenal player ratings vs Sunderland: Nketiah nets hat-trick in 5-1 win

Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals as they beat Sunderland 5-1 at the Emirates Stadium with Eddie Nketiah netting a superb hat-trick and Charlie Patino scoring on his debut.

Mikel Arteta was expected to ring the changes from his recent Premier League side, with the manager leaving only two players in from the 4-1 win over Leeds.

There was a rare start for Bernd Leno in goal, with three of thee back four also changing as Cedric, Rob Holding and Nuno Tavares all came into the side. Calum Chambers was out with COVID.

Mohamed Elneny got the nod in midfield and Nicolas Pepe confirmed he exists by being chosen out wide as Eddie Nketiah came in at No. 9 with Folarin Balogun out wide.

Arsenal player ratings vs Sunderland: Carabao Cup semi-final place booked with 5-1 win thanks to a wonderful Eddie Nketiah hat-trick and Charlie Patino goal

Nketiah got the ball rolling in the only way he knows how as he latched onto Holding’s header to fire home from all of two yards. Arsenal made it two just before the half-hour mark when some neat combination play from Pepe and Cedric finished with the Ivorian firing home off a deflection.

Sunderland, who played some lovely football in the first half, got the goal their performance endeavour when some poor Arsenal defending finished with Nathan Broadhead chipping the onrushing Leno.

Nketiah got his second shortly after the restart, showing Olivier Giroud-esque near post running coupled with a delightful flick on the outside of his boot from Nunos’ cross.

His hat-trick goal was a thing of beauty. Odegaard found Pepe who nutmegged his way into the box before Nketiah topped it all off with a gorgeous heeled finish. Then, to top it all off, Charlie Patino netted on his senior debut to send the home crowd into raptures.

A win that was expected for Arsenal wasn’t as clean cut as thought in the first half, yet in the end it was a comfortable victory that books the Gunners’ spot in the last four of the Carabao Cup.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – 6/10 – Didn’t look especially sharp and was a bit flimsy in possession. The difference in confidence there is with the back five when Ramsdale is out of the team is stark.

Cedric Soares (RB) – 6/10 – Everything Cedric did was either fairly decent or dreadful. He constantly supported Pepe down the right and whipped in a few good crosses, or he was hopelessly out of position defensively and misplaced a simple pass. He had energy galore but he is mainly just average in all departments.

Rob Holding (CB) – 7/10 – A touch rusty with his clearances which is not something you usually say with Holding, who like many was probably surprised by the adventure shown by Sunderland in this game. Defended his box well, though.

Benjamin White (CB) – 7/10 – Seen berating Pepe for not performing a single defensive action in the first half, White was the man who broke lines with his usual carries and looked to speed the play up from the back. Could he have done better to smother the visitors’ first half goal? Yes.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – 8/10 – Loads of energy and some exciting charges through the centre of the pitch, Nuno was in a mood tonight with flicks, chops and tricks in abundance.

Got himself on the assist board again.

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