Arsenal player ratings vs Norwich: Bukayo Saka nets brace in 5-0 win

Arsenal made it smiles all round against Norwich on Sunday as a brace from Bukayo Saka and goals from Kieran Tierney, Alexandre Lacazette and Emile Smith Rowe secured a 5-0 Boxing Day win in the Premier League.

Amid fixture postponements across the calendar as a result of Covid absences, Mikel Arteta’s side revealed three new cases in their squad for the trip to Carrow Road.

With that setback he was forced to bring Benjamin White in at right-back, with all four positive cases in the squad being right-backs. Four right-backs, and all have Covid.

Elsewhere it was the same team that won at Elland Road in the most recent league outing.

Arsenal player ratings vs Norwich as Bukayo Saka nets brace for Mikel Arteta’s side in thumping 5-0 Premier League win at Carrow Road

Bukayo Saka got the ball rolling after six minutes as he calmly slotted beyond Angus Gunn after being found in the box by Martin Odegaard, and it was smooth sailing for the rest of the half against a poor Norwich team.

Looking like going into half-time with just the solitary goal, Tierney bombed down the left after being played in by Odegaard and then slotted one into the bottom corner off the post.

Sake grabbed his second after the break having fashioned himself some space on the corner of the box before he fired in at the far post, to cap off a lovely outing from the Englishman.

There was time for a fourth and a fifth for Arsenal when Lacazette won and converted a penalty with just over five minutes to go and Emile Smith Rowe tapped home in stoppage time.

What a win. What a Boxing Day!

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 7/10 – Precious little to do, but what he did do he did well.

Benjamin White (RB) – 7/10 – Amid the right-back crisis it was White who was tasked with playing in the position ahead of Nuno Tavares, and he performed the inverted role brilliantly. Solid in recovery and supportive in attack, with just a couple of hairy moments when the intensity dropped after the break.

Rob Holding (CB) – 7/10 – Fairly quiet afternoon for Holding against a dreadfully organised Norwich team, who half pressed and half sat off leaving him with little trouble receiving the ball in deep areas.

Gabriel (CB) – 7/10 – Was a similar story for Gabriel who was never under any real pressure at Carrow Road, therefore able to progress the ball and occasionally carry with no real concern.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – 8/10 – A few of Tierney’s deliveries weren’t on the mark as good opportunities went begging, but his strike was really well taken and he got up that left flank constantly. Played down the line comfortably throughout.

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Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – 8/10 – This was more like it from Thomas Partey, although nobody is kidding themselves over how easy of an afternoon this was for him.

However, quality of opposition aside, the Ghanaian was more composed in possession and his passing was crisp throughout. Norwich couldn’t, or wouldn’t, get near him.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 7/10 – Was obviously getting bored in this game and his eyes lit up when there was some pushing and shoving going on. He had to feed his hunger.

From a footballing point of view, Xhaka controlled the game with ease alongside Partey and played through the Norwich midfield with each pass forward.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 9/10 – Magic Martin Odegaard.

It was fitting that Odegaard produced another dazzling performance on the former home of the player Arsenal made efforts to sign last summer, Emi Buendia.

Purring in central areas he ran the show with equal measures of silk and security. An absolute gem of a player.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 9/10 – Showed lovely composure to slot his effort beyond Gunn in the sixth minute and, as per usual, got kicked to pieces for most of the rest of the game.

Held the right side and gave Brandon Williams plenty to think about, with the addition of some high quality finishing being the standout feature of the match. Excellent once again.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – 7/10 – Much less involved than in previous games, it was nevertheless Lacazette’s movement that was key in Arsenal working openings and space.

Didn’t see a great deal of the ball but played his part with the positions he took up and his penalty was a silky as ever.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 7/10 – Did Martinelli even have a Christmas? His energy levels were disrespectfully high. His work rate is on another level.

Ran relentlessly and was unlucky to see a goal chalked off.

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Substitutes

Mohamed Elneny – 7/10 – Gave Partey a breather by coming on and being secure as always. Elneny doing Elneny things.

Nicolas Pepe – 6/10 – Didn’t have a great deal of impact coming off the bench with the game well and truly won by that point.

Emile Smith Rowe – 8/10 – Helped set up the fourth goal as he fed Lacazette for the penalty and then made it three in three, all off the bench! Outstanding cameo.