After a poor first half, Arsenal leaned into their set-piece prowess to score twice in the second period to take three points against Man Utd this evening.
Jurrien Timber scored his first goal for the club, heading home a Declan Rice corner, before Thomas Partey headed a Bukayo Saka corner onto William Saliba’s arse for the second.
It wasn’t the best performance of the season but it was a very important win on a night when Liverpool dropped points away at Newcastle.
Here’s how the players rated this evening.
Read the Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd match report and see the goals here
The ratings are hidden by default until you vote, but if you just want to view the ratings and the comments, flick the switch at the top above David Raya. Also, please give the ratings a few seconds to load.
Please note: Ratings currently don’t work in the Arseblog apps – open in a browser for full functionality.
Saliba gets 10 for comedy goal and a matching celebration.
And a great arsesist from Partey!
I worry for Martinelli. He looks bereft of confidence.
Not easy for him with Zinny instead of Calafiori but he’ll end the season with 10+ goals no worries
It’s pretty naïve to blame Zinchenko when Martinelli has been so/so for a long time, even with Calafiori. I’m not a Zinny fan by any stretch of the imagination, but to use Gabi being quite poor as a stick to beat him with is a bit much.
To be fair, that running was missed.
Maybe, but it’s not like Martinelli didn’t have chances. The first half one was quite difficult, but the one in the second half he did really nothing with it.
And he’s had Timber behind him and Califiori this season and whilst he’s been good in defence, from an attacking POV he’s still be fairly poor (and was last season). I just don’t think it’s fair to say Zinchenko is the reason Martinelli isn’t playing his best football, when it’s been a constant no matter who he has had behind him.
Not my intention!
As written below I think Zinny was ok most of the game. What I meant is that Calafiori brings more to Martinelli than Zinny does (because they have different qualities).
I agree that 24/25 Gabi is not as good as 22/23 Gabi but I think it will be much better with Merino & Calafiori next to him as again their profiles fit better to Gabi’s needs
He always seems to go on the outside these days. Should try to cut into to his strong foot, at least vary it
He had to cover for Zinky and still sprint upfield when we won back possession. He did his job today. He does need a goal, though.
the “he needs a goal” phrase is a thing for when a player is low on confidence and could use scoring a goal to feel better. he’s scored twice last month. he doesn’t need a goal, he needs a loan. stop looking for excuses for shitty performances
6 completed passes in the match. i said it 1 week ago and i had 79 downvotes. now this is upvoted. funny fanbase!
Zinchenko was playing, so he’s the reason Martinelli wasn’t good, it’s also his fault Saka didn’t score or assist and his fault that Gabriel is injured. He’s also responsible for covid, world war 1 and global warming.
A bit over the top, but people will look for any kind of reason to not be critical of a player when one they don’t like is on the field.
You are a lone light of wisdom in the darkness of our fan base. Thanks for reminding us all every week.
it might look fun, but it’s actually painful to be right every time
Arsenal’s natural incline to the right side of the field may have negatively played on his psyche, I think. When he has a supporting cast, he becomes lethal. He doesn’t even have a full-back to link up with at the moment. He’s the kind of player who thrives in partnerships.
Martinelli gets the ball wide and rarely has any help on the overlap. He’s basically forced to take on one or two defenders with no support.
Exactly this. Put Nwaneri next to him in the future with Calafiori behind them for 10 matches and we’ll look equally dangerous on both sides.
True. Rice gives us soich when we are without the ball, but when Martinelli is in possession of the ball Rice is nowhere to be seen and he always takes an extra touch with the ball.
Agreed. I don’t think he has the mental strength and personality to be a certain starter on a top 3 side. It’s noticeable that the more the expectations on the players has risen, the more the likes of him and Jesus have withered. I genuinely believe we’d be doing him a favour by buying a left winger and using himAs an impact sub. The reduction in expectations could free him
Up and his speed could be devastating in last 20
Mins.
I think he needs genuine competition for his place in the side. Previously he had to fight to usurp ESR and I think that kept him on his toes knowing he wasn’t a guaranteed starter. With ESR injured, falling out of favour and now gone and everyone else having a different type of game and their own issues with form, I think having someone who provides a challenge may see Martinelli become more focussed. Of course, I’m just speculating though.
I would think Trossard is a bigger threat to his minutes than ESR was in the past.
Except that Tross doesn’t deliver if he starts…
I really hope he finds some mojo soon. He can be so exciting, but he has been struggling for a while at the top end of the pitch. No doubt he still puts in a shift when called upon, and defensively is pretty good, but I think we might look for an upgrade next summer.
Maybe not overtly, but the kind of wide forward who can play both sides to challenge Martinelli and cover for Saka sometimes
I am tired of all those trying to defend him, finding faults in everyone but him. He is not a winger, he is good but he should have being replaced just like ramsdale. He is not a winger for epl contenders. The difference between him and saka is so huge, he is actually making job of saka difficult bcoz he cant handle the attacking load from that side, so everything falls on saka. I see salah play and he seems to be always free from one side bcoz diaz fucks ul the other side, before him it was mane. We… Read more »
Honestly, I’m shaking my head reading these comments. He’s young and just needs to get his mojo back. I’m not on twitter, but I’m hoping the arsenal fans on there are better than some on here so he doesn’t get fed the negativity. I doubt it though.
I’m not. Even when he doesn’t score he’s hard work for the opposition which has value in and of itself
But even so he’s scored 1 less open play goal than Saka whilst taking 25 fewer shots.
When is Saka’s 4 goals from 40 shots going to get the scrutiny it deserves?
I must be one of the only people that see Martinelli and Saka’s open play performances are basically identical, although i think Martinelli’s finishing is better.
Take away Saka’s corner assists, which is team endeavour, and his 4 “assists” for long range goals and their open play output is basically the same when adjusted for time on the pitch
That’s quite surprising to read. I suppose because the play goes down the right so much more, it feels like it’s Saka’s relentlessness that pays off with his numbers.
Maybe that’s why Martinelli’s misses feel more agonising: because he doesn’t get as many chances in the first place, so it feels like his chance to have an impact has gone every time it happens?
People confuse busy for effective, same goes for Partey, gets a lot of the ball and plays some nice passes, but because he stands about 10 yards deeper than he should he’s actually a net negative on the team.
No john C, you’re a net negative on the team
Not at all, just bringing in balance to the discussion
Said it last week that Timber is becoming one of my favorite players in this team. What a fvcking footballer!
I only worry that we don’t have cover for him in this jam-packed run of fixtures; considering he is still recovering from THAT injury. Think playing thrice a week is just too much to ask of him. Such a conundrum.
Ben white when he comes back aint so bad a backup
to have a player of Ben White’s quality as a backup just feels wrong. To be honest I still feel like him at RB and Timber at LB is currently our best and most secure back 4, even if it clearly isn’t Timber’s best position. Calafiori might be the long term solution at LB but he still needs to get a bit more secure defensively, I’d be happy letting him learn the job slowly, playing once a week at most when the fixtures get condensed. Zinchenko looking quite sharp lately too so we might have actual proper competition for both… Read more »
Totally with you on this, I’m not sold on Calafiori just yet, he does look good in all aspects other than defending. Timber has looked solid on both sides. So far!
defending is kind of important for a defender, ha
Maybe would have been worse to keep a Ruell Walter s ot Norton Cuffy aswell
So six people, they can’t be Arsenal fans, don’t seem to rate Ben White if I’m interpreting the down votes correctly? Weird…
What’s the story with Tomi , be great to have him back he’s vover for few positions
Crazy. No one has any idea what is going on with Tomi. The calendar from now till January 4 is bonkers. Timber definitely cannot play all those games. Maybe we will see TP5 at fullback in a couple of them.
Arteta saying they sent him
Away to have time off his his physical and MENTAL health suggests a sad situation. Injuries and time off the pitch can be devastating psychologically
Gillett, it’s about time to cancel his visa.
So much for the plan to import referees from around the world…
When bringing in a ref from abroad he was vetted and certified a nugget like the rest of them. No way they’d bring in a proper ref from say, Germany. It’ll never happen.
Numpties only!
How exactly would that happen? Wouldn’t said refs be working in Germany when matches are happening in England? Unless you pay them lots of money to not ref over there?
Honestly, based on some of the decisions this season (and every season really) I’d be willing to chip in if someone is going to organise a whip-round.
2/10 points to the top
I really liked the fact that we bullied them the second half. We worked out onana wouldn’t come for anything and exploited it. Signs our season is really starting to come to life. COYG!
Yes u gunners that’s the way to do it . Hope to see big Gabi and or Cala back for weekend, but well done Kiwi , tidy stuff
“Failed late fitness tests” for both gives me optimism! COYG!
If we beat Liverpool next time, we will cut the gap to four points. This is decent.
I didn’t realise it was Gillet on VAR until I read this. Are you f**king joking?! Why do we have to negotiate our way past him so often?!
Should’ve known that Aussie-scouse tw*t was at it when they scrutinised that 2nd goal to death.
to be fair to him, even though I have no desire to be fair to him, he didn’t rule out our second goal for Partey’s push despite a VAR review.
He tried though
then why didn’t he succeed? Feels like based on that little push he could’ve ruled it out if he really wanted to, it’s the sort of thing you see called both ways. Is there anyone who can veto him if that’s what he wants to do?
HE cant do anything but recommend a review… but he’s it 100% means a decision reversal these days …
Sure–it’s ultimately up to the referee on the pitch, not the VAR (with the exception of “objective” calls, like offside).
ah, thanks for clarifying. I thought once VAR reviews then it’s up to VAR.
Thank heavens people don’t downvote you here just for asking a question.
He kind of disgraces Charlie Gillett’s name.
Routine win at the end for Arsenal. They hardly got out of second gear, really. It just shows the gulf in class between the two teams at the moment.
Seven points is still a huge gap, but it’s better than nine. If Everton do a job on Liverpool on Saturday and we exact our revenge on Fulham, the title race suddenly becomes interesting.
COYG!!!
Whilst I admire the optimism I don’t think Everton have a hope in hell of getting anything out of Liverpool. I know they just beat Wolves 4-0 but I think there’s more chance of a bird shitting in 90 year old Ashley Young’s mouth than an Everton victory. Here’s hoping though.
Gillet, the worst the man can get.
Gah reminds me of Tim Sherwoods sartorial choices
How lucky arse goals are allowed 🤠
Brilliant arse-ssist from Partey
Bit harsh on Zinchenko I feel. Only one mistake in an otherwise good performance.
I completely agree on Saliba, though. Not sure why Alan Shearer gave player of the match to Rice (as good as he was). Saliba was flawless, and some of his passing and carrying of the ball was sublime. He really took responsibility for progressing the ball from the back in bi Gabby’s absence.
Zinchenko was doing well until his mistake against Diallo which looked like a typical Zinny mistake by the way.
I felt like he lacked rhythm but so did most of our team in the 1st half. Still think he could be useful against low blocks but nowhere near starting 11 I am afraid.
I agree he was playing well. Let’s not forget he hasn’t played 90 minutes in forever so his condition- physical and mental was bound to drop. I wonder if it had been 2-0 at that time would we have see. Tierney?
Liverfool haven’t played noone yet bar us with salibs, MO8 etc but Salahs amazing, super talent love watching him, can’t hate on him but he’s a one man team just now and can he keep it going ….. hardly ?
I was really impressed with Kiwior. He looked assured, on and off the ball. He really can deputize for Big Gabi.
It was just Shearer who didn’t realise how good Saliba was, then.
WHAT A WIN!!! We are back lads
I feel the left wing position is one that will dip into the market for next season. Unless Martinelli improves that is. Trossard into his 30’s, Jesus just doesn’t seem to be coming back to his best. Is Nico Williams too much to ask for?
Oo if only…..
Anyone else noticed the narrative around our corners regarding “fouls”? The commentators would not shut up about it earlier. If a foul was given every time someone pushed at a corner then there would be 10+ penalties per match. You put 14+ players in a box, each one wanting space, then they will have to shove each other. Its just pathetic from the media to try and create some controversy due to us being elite.
I’m afraid that now the refs are going to go out of their way to call fouls on us on corners that they wouldn’t call on any other team. “Arsenal MUST be doing something illegal to score on so many corners! We must put a stop to it!”
I’m afraid that now the refs are going to go out of their way to call fouls on us on corners that they wouldn’t call on any other team. “Arsenal MUST be doing something illegal to score on so many corners! We must put a stop to it!”
As the game on was on Prime UK I’ve chosen the option of stadium FX.
No aggro just lovely fans telling united they’re shite and utd players yelling at each other for each corner conceded
Lovely stuff technology
For me Raya deserved 9/10 – think he’s immense. what a save at a crucial moment, always so calm on the ball at his feet, comes and catches everything – so glad he’s a gooner
perfect distribution and 2 very bit saves, anything below 9 is crazy. what else does he have to do, score a hat trick?
Winning with Gillett on VAR should be worth an extra point. It really is like playing against 12 men.
i saw an interview of zinny with f*rdinand like two years ago. “i know what people say about me, about the defensive issues and all that, i’m working on it” well I’m sorry to say you haven’t worked on it enough. a complete liability every match he plays. and it’s coming from a big fan of him, i honestly thought he was the best left back in the world when he first came. that being said this match didn’t benefit his traits at all, but the same thing happens time and time again, so im afraid it’s time for him… Read more »
Of course he shouldn’t be a starter in a game like this. Against more defensive and offensive weaker opposition he’s very strong. Isn’t your ‘we’re just unlucky to have 4 defenders injured atm.’ argument just the reason why we DO still need him?
i understand your argument as i feel tempted to think the same, but i think against a more defensive side, we’re more likely to be hit on the counter, and zinchenko is definitely not the defender you want covering a counter attack either, he doesn’t have the speed nor the concentration to do that. about the second part of your statement, he did come handy indeed, but realistically it’s poor planning: you can’t have a player on 130k a week just in case you have 4 injured defenders. i do love him though so if we could find a way… Read more »
Even though we weren’t at our best really dominated them with possession/touches in the attacking 3rd, corner kicks, shots, shots on goal, etc. plus the general level of play. Can’t remember a game against a top 6 opponent where we had so many corner kicks (13) to their none. It seems our strategy often is when the player is near the end line with a defender on them cross the ball in and hope for a deflection out of bounds. We probably got half of our corners that way. Scored on two of them without Gabriel and almost scored on… Read more »
Meandering performance but 3 pts is 3 pts.
Martinelli, Rice and Havertz were nowhere in this game. And Zinchenko at LB is just an accident waiting to happen. Calafiori injured again?
We need to do better.
10 for Raya, because that great save saved us the 3 points. Otherwise bring back Martinez 🙂
Looks like barely anyone understands sarcasm.
I have become less and less a fan of Zinchenko. The foul on the edge of the box is a routine example of him losing concentration.
Totally agree – I can’t see what he brings to the team. Should have been long gone
When I see Martinelli running towards the box I’m often hoping he goes right and takes a shot he has a good right foot instead of left and wide where he often flames out. But he never does…I also agree with the person who wrote he needs an overlap partner.