[Player Ratings] Arsenal 3-3 Liverpool: Ozil excellent but Koscielny woeful

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Arsenal came from two goals down to then throw away a lead to draw 3-3 with Liverpool in a festive thriller at the Emirates tonight.

Once again, we were slow out the blocks and were lucky not to be at least 3-0 down at the break with Coutinho’s head all Liverpool had to show from 45 minutes of dominance.

They went 2-0 up thanks to a fortunate deflection from a Salah shot but that sparked us in to life in what was a manic five minute spell that saw us plunder three goals.

First, Sanchez pulled one back with a close range header before Xhaka unleashed a thunderous strike to make it 2-2. Ozil then capped off a lovely move with Lacazette with a stunning chipped finish to put us ahead for the first time in the game.

However, we threw it all away as poor defending and even worse goalkeeping allowed Firmino to score an equaliser in the 71st minute to seal a thrilling 3-3 draw in north London.

Here are my ratings:

Cech  6.5/10 | Made a couple of vital saves to keep us in the game in the first half but poor keeping cost us their third goal.

Bellerin  6/10 | Got an assist for Sanchez’s goal but was given a tough time defensively.

Koscielny  5/10 | Couldn’t handle Liverpool’s attack. All over the place at times and should have done more to prevent the pass that led to the first goal.

Monreal  5/10 | He’s NOT a centre-back! Dragged out of position several times and was replaced at half-time.

Maitland-Niles  6/10 | Did his best in an unfamiliar position against one of the best attackers in the league. Caught out positionally a few times but his recovery work was good.

Xhaka  7/10 | His lack of mobility was a huge issue in the first half as Liverpool ran us ragged but scored a thunderbolt to make it 2-2. Was better in the second half when we controlled things.

Wilshere  7/10 | Like his team mates, woeful in the first half but much better after the break. Played some wonderful passes and driving runs from midfield were important in instigating attacks.

Iwobi  5/10 | A willing worker but didn’t have the quality to influence a big game like this.

Ozil  8/10 | Another superb goal from Mesut should have won us the game. Pulled the strings in the second half to drag us back in to the game.

Alexis  6.5/10 | His first half display was barely worth 1/10 but he scored the vital first goal and was much better after the break.

Lacazette  7/10 | A real lack of service at times but produced a lovely back-heel pass to set-up Ozil for his goal

Subs:

Mustafi  6/10 | Left a gaping hole for Firmino to score the equaliser but was otherwise solid.

Welbeck 5/10 | Didn’t have much of an influence

Walcott N/A | On too late.

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One Comment

1. 

   Adebayo

   December 23, 2017 at 8:04 am

   I disagreed with Xhaka rating, maybe you gave him so much because of his goal. He slow our game, he is too slow and lack confidence.

   Reply