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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Midfielders

Mohamed Elneny (CM) – 7/10 – Every single phrase, word or description usually reserved for Mohamed Elneny can be used again here. Negative on the ball but still tidy in possession, there was a sluggishness to his play tonight unlike that seen at Old Trafford.

Usual tidy Mo.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 8/10 – The brightest spark for Arsenal as he was the one controlling attacking sequences and feeding teammates into spaces either side.

Showed silkiness throughout and threaded some delightful passes.

Emile Smith Rowe (AM) – 6/10 – Not the best night for Smith Rowe who lost possession more than is usually seen from him. Struggled in a congested midfield area and wasn’t as penetrative as he would have liked.

When Sunderland energy levels died he got much more involved and caused all sorts of problems.

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Forwards

Nicolas Pepe (RW) – 8/10 – Pepe might as well just get ‘frustrating’ tattooed on his forehead.

Nothing sums him up better than the passage of play before Nketiah’s hat-trick goal: he lost the ball stupidly, prompting Arteta to literally cover his face with his hands, and then gets up the other end with a glorious nutmeg and assist.  Some glorious, some dreadful. In other words: ‘Pepe’.

Still, two assists and a goal. Very decent stuff.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – 9/10 – £50m will do in January, thanks.

Scoring his first in trademark Nketiah style, he followed the flight of the ball all the way through  for a one-yard tap-in, and then for his first then showed excellent predatory bite to flick in his second wonderfully.

But the third was a thing of beauty. Odegaard’s delightful pass and Pepe’s fine assist were finished off by Nketiah’s Cruyff heel flick. A stupendous goal.

He is the fox in the box. The king of tap-ins (and flicks), and that latter point is anything but a criticism.

Folarin Balogun (LW) – 6/10 – Clearly needs a run of games in senior football as the jump up to this level from Under-23 action is vast. Did have some neat moments down the left, though.

Came off earlier than he probably should have, but having been booked perhaps it was wise. He needs regular minutes against opposition of around this level.

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Substitutes

Granit Xhaka – 8/10 – Came on and ran the show. The switch to a double pivo helped Arsenal and they controlled the game with ease from thereon in, with Xhaka at the forefront of that.

Gabriel – 7/10 – Gave White the rest his weary legs needed.

Gabriel Martinelli – 6/10 – Spent more time being fouled than he did actually getting to play.

Charlie Patino – 8/10 – Didn’t see a lot of the ball but what a night for the 18-year-old when he popped up to score on his first team debut for the club. What a special moment.