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RATINGS: My Ratings From Arsenal’s Crucial 1-0 Win Over Newcastle

By mac14 on December 29, 2013

It wasn’t pretty but we did just enough to secure the three points with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon. Here are my ratings:

Szczesny 7/10 – Almost cost us the three points when his clearance rebounded off Remy and went just past the post but otherwise he made some routine saves and dealt with the pressure well.

Sagna 8/10 – His crossing was terrible but he was solid at the back. Did his bit to keep the home side at bay.

Mertesacker 8.5/10 – A rock all afternoon. Made a number of headed clearances as Newcastle pumped the ball into the box in search of the equaliser and put in a captains display.

Koscielny 8/10 – Back in the team and it was like he’d never been away. He kept Remy quiet and alongside Mertesacker, he was immense.

Gibbs 7/10 – Some dodgy moments in the first half and was given plenty of problems by Debuchy. But improved as the game went on before being subbed late on, presumably with a knock.

Flamini 7.5/10 – Protected the defence well and filled in at left-back when Gibbs went off.

Wilshere 5.5/10 – Disappointing display from Jack. He started in his preferred central position but was off the pace for much of the game, giving away sloppy balls and losing possession. Much do better.

Rosicky 6/10 – Not at his best going forward but put a shift in helping out the defence and pressuring the home side when they had possession.

Cazorla 5.5/10 – After his MOTM performance against West Ham I was expecting Santi to be a key man today but he was poor. Nothing seemed to come off for him.

Walcott 6/10 – Couldn’t really get himself in the game all that much and we were unable to utilise his pace, but he played in a superb free-kick for Giroud’s winner.

Giroud 7/10 – Some nice touches and link-up play and ended his goal drought with a well-taken header.

Subs:

Arteta 6/10 – On to shore things up and see-out the game.

Jenkinson N/A – on too late

Bendtner N/A – on too late

A huge win for The Arsenal and we head into the New Year sitting top of the league. COYG!

Agree with my ratings? What were yours?

11 Comments

Toby

December 29, 2013 at 5:05 pm

I don’t think you watched this match yourself. Maybe you heard the highlights on radio and you decided to give your own ratings. Apart from that goal,Giroud was very useless. I don’t agree with the ratings you gave to Rosicky and carzola. Wilshire and giroud were flops,brother watch again

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Steve

December 29, 2013 at 5:26 pm

Toby – at least spell Santi’s name right!! Giroud did not have his best game but he scored the winner and put a shift in. Good enough for me. Rosicky was pretty good today I thought where as Santi and Jack were poor.
Per and Kos were beasts and along with Flamini and Rosicky ensured a clean sheet at a home ground where not many will get 3 points especially given NUFC’s current form
Let’s get behind Giroud as he gives a lot to the team and brings midfield into attack very well.

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- Mauritius Gooner
  
  December 30, 2013 at 4:49 am
  
  what have you been smoking?
  
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Omar

December 29, 2013 at 5:36 pm

Giroud 1/10
Useless cant play can’t run can t pass the ball didn’t score for how long ?!!!!

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- davidrusa
  
  December 30, 2013 at 8:22 am
  
  This must be a very stupid fellow who is driven by hate rather than proper analysis and love of the game. If Giroud missed a goal and scored one which won us the game how can he be totally useless. This fellow needs to style up and stop exposing his hate. This can’t even be a true gooner. He is only a pretender.
  
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skind

December 29, 2013 at 5:42 pm

Rosicky easily man of the match for Arsenal

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TT

December 29, 2013 at 5:44 pm

“That is what you need in a team. He has these qualities, that of course is very important. We are small and technical… so to have a player up front to counterbalance that is important.”

Wenger’s words on Giroud. We need a fighter up front to put in a shift and battle for the ball.

When he went off, we couldn’t hold onto the ball. Man of the match for me, just for the sheer fight he put in.

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- davi
  
  December 29, 2013 at 6:09 pm
  
  I agree with what Wenger said but you can’t say Giroud had a *great game today. In tight matches like this it’s tough for him to contribute massively but no one can fault him for his work rate. I don’t think his linkup play was fantastically good – largely because we couldn’t get our players close enough to him or because newcastle closed the space extremely well – but he fought for everything as usual and contributed where he could, not least with the winning goal. I don’t think Bendtner did any worse than OG in that department except that we had clearly dropped off to soak up attacks – at that point in the game there was very little Bendtner or Giroud could do because we weren’t attacking purposefully.
  The CBs were the Motm imo and I thought flamini and rosicky were both excellent.
  
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Peter

December 29, 2013 at 6:07 pm

Even if he scored the only vital goal,he deserves roughly 5/10 or even lessthan that.Podolski would have come on for Girould than Bendtner…

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- davidrusa
  
  December 30, 2013 at 8:31 am
  
  Did you watch the game or you heard about it? Giroud did a lot for the team today besides scoring. His hold up play and passing enabled other players to put pressure on New Castle. True he missed a goal but that was because it was on his weaker leg,the right. I have not met a striker who scores all the time. How many goals did Suarez score against Chelsea yesterday. I remember Van Persie missing some very clear chances. What does the last statement mean? If Giroud had played very well and not scored you would have castigated him; now that he has scored you still castigate him. What is your motive then? Are you truly a gooner? I wonder because all gooners wanted a win which we got. What is your complaint?
  
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seyifunmi

December 30, 2013 at 12:04 pm

AveraGe performance frm d team! Bt d defenders were really outstanding! D keeper nd flamini included. Giroud! A gud game 4 him bcos e scored d decider! Bt still,I bliv e isn’t d kind of striker we need 2 bcom a champion! We need a player d@ wud take @least 2 of any 4 goal scoring chances! Not giroud d@ wud score 1 out of 4! We need a top class striker! Bt I wud give him 6.5/10 4 ystdy’s game!

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