Arsenal player ratings vs Chelsea: Nketiah brace in stunning 4-2 win

Arsenal ended their three-game losing streak on Wednesday night as a goal apiece from Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka and an Eddie Nketiah brace secured Chelsea a stunning 4-2 win in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta came into this match without key players once again with Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey both long-term absentees, while there were question marks over Takehiro Tomiyasu and Alexandre Lacazette.

Only the latter made it into the squad for this game after recovering from Covid-19, although Eddie Nketiah kept his place in the centre-forward position.

Across the rest of the pitch there were more changes from the Southampton defeat, with Granit Xhaka partnering none other than Mohamed Elneny in the midfield. Benjamin White appeared to be at right-back in a 4-2-3-1/3-4-3 hybrid, and Rob Holding came into defence. Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe replaced Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal player ratings vs Chelsea as Nketiah brace and goals from Smith Rowe and Saka secure stunning 4-2 Premier League win

Arsenal took the lead in predatory fashion when Nketiah pounced on a loose pass back to goal and kept his composure before coolly slotting beyond Mendy. However, Chelsea got back into the game in fortuitous fashion when Werner’s tame shot took a deflection off Xhaka to bobble past Ramsdale.

Emile Smith Rowe put Arsenal back in front with a wonderfully taken finish into the bottom corner, only for the hosts to strike back once again when Azpilicueta met a Mount cross at the near post to tap in.

It was Nketiah again who gave the visitors the lead after the break when he pounced quickest in the box on another defensive fumble to poke beyond Mendy from close range.

As the clocked ticked down Arsenal were awarded a penalty that Saka slotted home to send the away fans into raptures and secure a stunning 4-2 win. A quite astounding victory considering the circumstances. Outstanding.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 5/10 – Once again there was precious little Ramsdale could do about the goals – perhaps his footing is wrong for the first – although on this occasion he didn’t look anywhere near assured as he needed to be on wide deliveries and set pieces. He didn’t look comfortable on a few occasions.

Benjamin White (RB) – 6/10 – White was aggressive tonight. Extremely aggressive. He was getting touch tight, flying into the duels and really trying to rough up Alonso. However, on the ball he wasn’t as sharp as he needed to be. Clearances were really poor.

Rob Holding (CB) – 6/10 – He looked like a man who hasn’t played a lot of football this season. On the ball he was loose to release, slow to receive, and it resulted in unnecessary pressure being put on his team. When it comes to balls in the air, however, he’s different gravy.

Gabriel (CB) – 8/10 – There were a couple of neat cleaning up jobs from Gabriel covering either side of him, although he, like most of the defence, was guilty of sloppy moments on the ball in the early exchanges – but he put in a commanding display from thereon in. Physically he stood strong to whatever Chelsea threw at him.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – 6/10 – Decision making, decision making, decision making. Chaos is his best and worst trait and while he had fine moments bursting forward, the choices he made either to pass or not to pass were befuddling in the early exchanges. That side of his game tidied up after the break and his passing infield was crisp and clever. Much improved after the break.

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Midfielders

Mohamed Elneny (CM) – 9/10 – Having not played a game for four months, to come in and not look off the pace physically was a testament to Elneny’s professionalism on and off the pitch.

He had a job to do, one he was trusted to do over Sambi, and he carried it out just in the way you’d imagine. Always in the right place for crosses and second balls, he had an outstanding second half.

Out of this world.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 8/10 – Played a fundamental role in the Gunners’ second goal with how he evaded pressure, and after a sloppy start, as he had done at Southampton, he improved and got much more meaningful control in midfield.

Very solid outing, especially in the second half. As we’ve become accustomed to.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 7/10 – Arsenal needed Odegaard to step up after three poor outings from him, and he did.

The Norwegian was at the heart of all the Gunners’ moves forward, even if he wasn’t on the ball all that much, especially after the break, with the weight of his touch and pass back to its best. And what about his energy? Industrious off the ball he harried and pressed everyone and everything he could.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 7/10 – Was being screamed at by Arteta early doors as he couldn’t get his positioning right with Alonso, and after that brief bedding in period he found his feet and put in one hell of a shift up and down the right side.

And what a cool head to take his first penalty since that day. Wow.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – 9/10 – You have to tip your hat to Nketiah, he was outstanding. The composure for the opening goal was Martinelli-esque, but it was the other aspects of his game that stood out best.

Engaged off the ball, the previous criticisms of him – hold up and link play – were dispelled for one night as he shielded well, controlled well and brought others into the game. His best game for Arsenal by some distance.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) – 7/10 – Took his goal like a true forward and came within a whisker of grabbing another when some exceptional footwork in the box wasn’t quite met with a finish of equal quality as his shot flew wide.

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Substitutes

Gabriel Martinelli – 6/10 – Came to lead the line with Arsenal hoping to maintain defensive intensity from the front, and ran his socks off.

Cedric Soares – 5/10 – Spurned a glorious opportunity when Gabriel brilliantly found him, one that would surely have sealed the win.

Alexandre Lacazette – N/A