Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: Complete Player Ratings

Arsenal defeated Crystal Palace 2-0 at the Emirates on Sunday, bringing them to third in the table. Here are Pain In the Arsenal’s complete player ratings.

Arsenal have beaten Crystal Palace at home and moved up to third place in the Premier League table on 40 points.

The Gunners were smooth sailing for almost the whole ninety minutes, as the opening goal – a masterful heel-flick from Olivier Giroud – flattened the Palace players.

The goal came from a brilliant break, started and finished by the French striker, and it was one of many incisive attacking moves made by Arsenal.

As the first half came to a close and the game wore on, the home side were dominant and were often toying with their opponents, who couldn’t get near the ball.

Here are the player ratings.

PETR CECH

GK, Arsenal FC

7.5

Petr Cech kept his clean sheet and was quick to stop all the shots that he faced. Andros Townsend was the one Palace player challenging the Czech stopper, and other than that it was Cech on top of everything.

HECTOR BELLERIN

RB, Arsenal FC

8

Hector Bellerin kept Wilfried Zaha in his pocket for the entirety of this game. Zaha’s pace wasn’t near enough to test the Spaniard and he had an easy job defending his flank. Bellerin has improved in leaps and bounds in 2016.

LAURENT KOSCIELNY

CB, Arsenal FC

7.5

I know Laurent Koscielny has a solid performance when I don’t have a whole lot to say about him. He is one of the most experienced Premier League defenders, and he dealt with Christian Benteke expertly.

GABRIEL PAULISTA

CB, Arsenal FC

7.5

Gabriel was aggressive and didn’t back down to any of the challenges he was faced with. Blocking shots, clearing the ball and making tackles on Palace players running with the ball. He has improved in 2016 in leaps and bounds as well.

NACHO MONREAL

LB, Arsenal FC

6.5

Nacho Monreal had a difficult time defending Andros Townsend, who has no right foot and yet still managed to turn his opponent inside out multiple times during the game. Monreal looks a few steps off the pace and Arsenal should look at options for a future star left-back in the summer transfer window.

MOHAMED EL NENY

MID, Arsenal FC

7.5

Mohamed El Neny had a standout performance in midfield and ran the show for periods during the first sixty minutes of the game. His tackling ability and passing ability was on display, and he made up for what Granit Xhaka lacked today in playmaking ability.

GRANIT XKAHA

Arsenal FC

6

Xhaka wasn’t at his best in terms of winning the ball back, and he didn’t play his nifty passes as accurately as he has done on days before. He’s still finding his best form, and it is going to come – it’s just a matter of time for Granit.

ALEX IWOBI

MID, Arsenal FC

7.5

Alex Iwobi was a live wire once again and he attacked the Palace defenders from both through the center and in the wide areas, which is exactly what is asked of him. However, he gave up possession more than any other attacking midfielder in the final third. That’s something that will improve as he gains match experience. Great instincts to score the goal with his head, and it was a very accurately timed leap at that.

ALEXIS SANCHEZ

MID, Arsenal FC

7

Alexis provided the assist for Giroud’s brilliant first goal, but he looked worn out after 70 minutes. (Got a little too frustrated at the end of the game when his teammates failed to find him on the break). Enjoy your football, lad!

LUCAS PEREZ

MID, Arsenal FC

6

Lucas’ touch was a little bit off when he needed it to be crisp, and his right foot did not produce many good things on the day. If he is attacking on the right side, he should at least be proficient with his right foot.

OLIVIER GIROUD

ST, Arsenal FC

8

(MAN OF THE MATCH) Scored an absolutely ridiculous goal. Had a grin on his face in the second half after Arsenal went 2-0 up, why shouldn’t he.

There is no rating for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin given the little time they spent on the pitch.

• Published on 01/01/2017 at 8:14 PM GMT
• Last updated on 01/01/2017 at 8:14 PM GMT