Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal player ratings vs Man City: Rodri snatches 2-1 win

By Ross Kennerley

Arsenal's Brazilian defender Gabriel (R) reacts after receiving a red card during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 1, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Brazilian defender Gabriel (R) reacts after receiving a red card during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 1, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Arsenal, TP
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 01: Bernardo Silva of Manchester City is challenged by Thomas Partey of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on January 01, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – 9.5/10 – Of all the times to drop your best performance in an Arsenal shirt, now was the time. Partey was on another level against City. Otherworldly. He owned the centre of the pitch.

Whether it was winning duels, evading pressure or dropping a shoulder to feint beyond his man, everything that he did was sublime. Absolutely sublime.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 7/10 – Showed far more willingness to play forward on Saturday with his choice of passes setting the tone throughout the match. Got up and down the pitch with high pressing all afternoon and was always an option for a pass. An outstanding display, one of his finest…and then the penalty incident happened.

Right on cue. Don’t pull the shirt. Don’t give the referee a decision. Such a shame as he was immense.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 8/10 – Stitched everything together with elegance and poise. Drifting off to free spaces kept the City midfield shifting over and that opened the gaps for a midfielder to carry, which allowed combinations to continue being built all over the pitch.

This triangular relationship with Xhaka and Partey is developing into something special.

Continued on next page…

Home/Arsenal News