Player Ratings: Preston 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal managed to scrape through against Preston in the FA Cup on Saturday. The Gunners were guilty of some poor defending initially in the game but thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey, Wenger’s men managed to scrap out a 2-1 win.
Preston scored early after some shocking defending which saw Robinson open the scoring. You would think that the early would spur Arsenal on but in fact, it was quite the opposite. Preston could arguably have scored two or three before the half and effectively kill the game off but due to some poor execution, Arsenal got away with only one goal conceded in the first-half.
In the second-half the Gunner’s came out with much more direction nd actually started to get into the game. It didn’t take long for Arsenal to equalise when Ramsey fired in Arsenal’s first straight after the break. The Gunners continued to knock on the door and it started to look as though the match was heading for a draw until Giroud put in the winner.
Let’s take a place at the player ratings…
David Ospina: 6/10
Apart from the goals, Ospina had nothing to do, especially in the second-half were Preston didn’t have a single shot on goal. Ospina looked shaky at the beginning but that was mostly down to his defence.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 6.5/10
Mixed game for the youngster who was shaky in the first-half against an experienced Aiden Mcgeady who caused him constant problems. Perez lack of tracking back was pretty clear and that saw Niles struggle even more so, however, the 19-year-old was much more effective going forward in the first-half and bombed forward as Arsenal pinned Preston back for much of the half.
Gabriel Paulista: 5/10
Really struggled against pace in the first-half, with Robinson and Hugill running circles around the Brazilian. Gabriel also tried to play offside on a couple of occasions when he should’ve really gone to his man.
Shkodran Mustafi: 6/10
Mixed game for the German, who along side Gabriel was Culpable for a poor first-half in Arsenal’s defence. However he maintains his unbeaten run whenever he starts.
Nacho Monreal: 6/10
Not good in the first-half however massively improved in the second. The Spanish full-back was attacking at every opportunity and putting some good crosses into the box. A solid performance from Monreal.
Granit Xhaka: 7/10
Key for Arsenal today was the Swiss international. Xhaka was the main component for Arsenal’s second-half comeback as he played passes calmly and wasn’t wasteful in possession, with many Arsenal players playing wayward passes.
Aaron Ramsey: 6/10
Brilliant goal, otherwise the Welshman had no other major contribution in the game. He was involved in some of Arsenal’s attacking but none threatening apart from his goal.
Lucas Perez: 6.5/10
Struggled in the first-half on the right as he was rarely involved in attack. Lucas also failed to help out Maitland-Niles in defence which saw Arsenal punished in the first-half. However, the spaniard produced a sumptuous back heel for an assist for Giroud’s late winner.
Alex Iwobi: 6.5/10
It was a good game for the youngster who saw plenty of the ball, and provided an adequate replacement for Ozil. His contribution in the first Arsenal goal was key, which saw him claim an assist.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 5.5/10
Gave the ball away a few times in the first-half as the Gunners struggled to maintain possession of the ball. The England international didnt really have an influence in proceedings in the second-half.
Olivier Giroud: 6.5/10
My man of the match for todays game. Another late goal and good hold up play in the second-half. The Frenchman is really an under rated asset for Arsenal.
Substitutions
Danny Welbeck: N/A
Came on too late for a rating
Rob Holding: N/A
Came on too late for a rating
Jeff Reine-Adelaide: N/A
Came on too late for a rating
