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

Arsenal were left heartbroken by Manchester City on New Year’s Day as Bukayo Saka’s opener was cancelled out by Riyad Mahrez and then Rodri in stoppage time to condemn the Gunners to a 2-1 Premier League defeat.

Mikel Arteta selected his side for the match but was unavailable on the touchline as he and many of the coaching staff tested positive for Covid, leaving Albert Stuivenberg in charge on the dugout.

As for the team, there was a surprise inclusion for Takehiro Tomiyasu at right-back despite barely training, if at all, following his own positive test.

Other than that, the team was the same as it has been in recent weeks with Rob Holding missing out from the 5-0 win over Norwich.

Arsenal player ratings vs Manchester City as Rodri snatches 2-1 injury time Premier League winner for Guardiola’s side against ten-men Gunners

Hoping to avoid the annual goal conceded inside three minutes, Arsenal showed incredible bravery from the off. They pressed high, with intensity, and got stuck into every single duel.

Martin Odegaard thought he’d won a penalty when Ederson fouled him in the box, but despite the tight nature of the call and the goalkeeper seeming to touch the man before the ball, nothing was given. However, with 31 minutes on the clock, Bukayo Saka swept home from Tierney’s cross to hand the hosts a deserved lead going into half-time.

Arsenal continued in the same vein after the half but were pegged back when Xhaka felled Bernardo Silva and, after VAR review, the penalty was given. Riyad Mahrez made no mistake.

After Martinelli missed an open goal it went from bad to worse as Gabriel received his marching orders for a second yellow card.

It was all hands to the pump for the remainder of the game with Arsenal still trying to play their game, and the longest six minutes of additional time ever saw hearts broken as Rodri snatches an undeserved win for the visitors. Stuart Atwell played his part.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 8/10 – Apart from picking the ball out of his net twice, Ramsdale had very little to do until the game turned on the penalty and the red card. One of his passes into Martinelli was ou of this world.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – 9/10 – Having barely trained at all, Tomiyasu didn’t show it. He was touch tight on Raheem Sterling all afternoon and followed City’s wide players like a rash. Played some excellent passes to evade danger on his left foot.

Benjamin White (CB) – 8/10 – Back in central defence, White showed a new side to his game with some fine recovery challenges coupled with the usual flair in possession. He was never too far from Gabriel or Tomiyasu and those distances closed down City in the half-spaces.

Gabriel (CB) – 5/10 – Having bossed the defence all the way through the first 55 minutes, Gabriel got a yellow card for stupidly scuffing the penalty spot and then got his marching orders for a clear yellow seconds after Martinelli hit the post.

Lunacy.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – 8/10 – Managed to get the better of Cancelo on a few occasions with some excellent deliveries, and for the most part covered his defensive box stoutly. His pass into Saka was a clever delivery that caught Ederson cold.

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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.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 9/10 – Terrorised Nathan Ake down the right side in a pulsating first half, and continued to threaten into the second half even after Arsenal were reduced to ten men.

Some of his dribbling was mesmerising and the danced past challenges for fun. Another really well taken goal and at the end he was blowing his lungs out. An incredible shift.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – 8/10 – Dragged central defenders out of positions all throughout the game and his movement was integral to all the positive play that Arsenal produced.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 8/10 – When you give one of the finest full-backs in world football, Joao Cancelo, a torrid afternoon then you know you’re doing something exceptionally well.

Martinelli was a menace down the left flank and created opportunities on his own with intense dribbling and ball carrying. He was two handfuls. But should he have scored? If he did it goes 2-1 and the Gabriel incident probably doesn’t happen. Football is cruel.

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Substitutes

Rob Holding – 6/10 – Replaced Odegaard to come into defence and did his job well in enough merely protecting the box at all costs until the dying seconds.

Emile Smith Rowe – 6/10 – Didn’t see much of the ball with Arsenal camped deep in their half towards the end of the match.

Mohamed Elneny – N/A – Not on long enough for a rating as he came to shore things up.