Arsenal player ratings vs Wolves: Lacazette secures huge 2-1 win

Arsenal secured a stunning win on Thursday as goals from Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette clinched a late 2-1 win in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta had some of his most interesting selection decisions to make in advance of this game, with Emile Smith Rowe’s goalscoring return to the starting lineup leaving him with a decision to make over Gabriel Martinelli.

However, sickness ruled Smith Rowe out entirely so it was Gabriel Martinelli who took up his slot on the left side, with the only other question mark in the starting lineup being whether Takehiro Tomiyasu would return at right-back.

Worryingly ruled out with a calf injury, he didn’t even make the squad and Cedric Soares kept his place.

Arsenal player ratings vs Wolves as Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette snatch last-gasp 2-1 Premier League win

Wolves took the lead in calamitous fashion as Gabriel shielded a ball down the line before a lazy pass back to Aaron Ramsdale was intercepted by Hwang Hee-Chan, who slotted in from a tight angle.

Arsenal dominated the ball for most of the first half, creating opportunities and finding spaces only to squander them when they came.

In need of an improvement after the break, it was Hwang who came closest seconds into the half as he fired a shot through Ramsdale’s legs that squirmed just past the post.

With the clock ticking, both substitutes for Arsenal combined as Eddie Nketiah fed Nicolas Pepe in the box, who turned superbly before rifling beyond Jose Sa. Then, in the dying seconds of added time, Lacazette scored to steal the three points for Arsenal in the most dramatic of fashion.

What. A. Win.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 6/10 – Everyone looked shaky at the back and Ramsdale played a part in that. He picked out a few clever passes but never exuded confidence.

Cedric Soares (RB) – 5/10 – Wasn’t tracking back enough and left gaps in behind, with his positioning when Arsenal don’t have the ball one of his weaker traits. Got caught in possession needlessly a few times but did pick out some decent diagonal passes.

Benjamin White (CB) – 6/10 – His balls over the top in behind Saiss were where Arsenal were having joy. Eager to assume possession and makes things happen his options were limited, but he kept plugging away.

Gabriel (CB) – 4/10 – From the first minute it was apparent that Gabriel was not right. He dallied in possession, struggled physically against Raul Jimenez and was caught out of position on numerous occasions. The goal was appalling.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – 5/10 – Wolves found joy down their right side with Daniel Podence picking up clever spaces that Xhaka had vacated, making Tierney’s job on that side tough. For the most part he defended well, but he too was limited going forward and looked shaky when players were running at him.

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Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – 8/10 – Arsenal’s best player on the night, Partey was squeaky clean on the ball, playing out of tight spaces and playing neat one-touch passes into the feet of the forwards.

Scanned well all night and forced Wolves into wide areas with his clever positioning. Outstanding.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 6/10 – Totally lost playing in the advanced No. 8 role. He’d pick up possession and not have the speed of thought to move it on quick enough, with his passes into Martinelli slack of wasteful. Did not impact the game in a positive way until after the break where he picked up possession in deeper areas, by which point he improved considerably.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 7/10 – His work rate was excellent, always trying to initiate moves, speed the play up and get on the ball. If anything, Arsenal needed him on the ball more, as his influence was the beating heart of anything positive from the Gunners.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 5/10 – The better elements of Arsenal’s play in the first half came through Saka, who had the beating of Saiss. Ait-Nouri covered him well in that area though, and the service was tough to find, with his second half showing not the usual incisive Saka fans watch every week.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – 6/10 – Clearly took on the advice of supporters to shoot more often, although his choice of shot was so, so poor. When he shot he shouldn’t have, and when he didn’t he should of. A masterclass in dreadful decision making.

There was an increased effort to turn in this game when he received the ball, often when the pass was the better option. And then, when he did shoot off target, it went in. Own goal or not, it’s those moments that matter.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 5/10 – Did try down the left, yet didn’t get the beating of his man as much as he would have liked, which wasn’t aided by a lack of crisp delivery from either Tierney or Xhaka.

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Substitutes

Nicolas Pepe – 8/10 – Really lively. Despite barely playing his first touch was clean almost every time and he looked threatening on the ball and took his goal superbly. Wonderful cameo.

Eddie Nketiah – 7/10 – Provided some fine work in the build up to the equaliser and after that moment came alive as he turned and ran at the Wolves defence.

Nuno Tavares – N/A – Came on late for the injured Tierney, but not long enough for a rating.