Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Man City 4-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners succumb to City exhibition

By James Cormack

Arsenal players react after conceding a third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 26, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / 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. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal players react after conceding a third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 26, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / 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. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

Manchester City took full control of the title race as they put on a show against a hapless Arsenal on Wednesday night, running out – victors. 

The Gunners were absolutely schooled by the magnificent hosts in the first half and, in truth, they were fortunate to just be behind 2-0 at the break. City asserted complete control on the contest both with and without the ball as Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones got on the scoresheet.

Mikel Arteta looked like a man with no solution on the sidelines after Stones’ header was awarded following VAR intervention on the stroke of half-time.

Ramsdale denied Haaland again at the start of the second half, but there was nothing he could do to prevent De Bruyne from scoring City’s third soon after.

The hosts took their foot off the pedal after tripling their lead which gave the Gunners some respite. Arteta made all five changes, and they eventually got on the scoresheet through Rob Holding (!) who thumped home from inside the box in the closing stages.

That would prove to be a mere consolation, however, as Haaland eventually got his goal in stoppage time to put the finishing touches on a superb City performance.

Man City 4-1 Arsenal player ratings

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from their defeat at the Etihad.

Aaron Ramsdale kept the score down. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Aaron Ramsdale kept the score down. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) /

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 6/10 – Kept the score down in the first half as he made a string of impressive saves to deny Haaland. Less busy after the break.

Ben White (RB) – 5/10 – Made an excellent block to deny De Bruyne after he’d given City the lead. Rarely ventured forward and by the end of the night his aim was seemingly to rack up as many fouls as possible on Jack Grealish.

Rob Holding (CB) – 5/10 – Look, we know that Holding’s presence inhibits the Gunners, but was he the reason they were battered tonight? Absolutely not. HE EVEN SCORED!

Gabriel (CB) – 3/10 – Arguably his worst performance of the season. Completely overwhelmed by Haaland at times, and made a couple of stupid errors with the ball.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB) – 4/10 – City’s early squeeze all but nullified Zinchenko’s influence in possession. Wasn’t targeted much defensively, but this certainly wasn’t the Ukrainian’s best work.

Continued on the next slide…