Player Ratings: Sydney FC 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal took on Sydney FC in the first game of their pre-season tour, which will see them back in Sydney on Saturday to take on the Western Sydney Wanderers and then travel to China next week.

The Gunners started with plenty of energy – something you wouldn’t necessarily expect in the pre-season – and we rewarded early on when Per Mertesacker, in somewhat laboured style, hooked the ball into the big net. In the second-half, Arsenal began to show signs of tiring which slowed the game down, something which was exaggerated when Arsene Wenger made wholesale replacements – albeit Alexandre Lacazette did open his account.  

Here’s how the Gunners performed in their opening game.

Petr Cech: 5/10 

A good first-half performance wasn’t really troubled at all by the Sydney team, but did make a crucial save in the 34th minute.

Nelson: 8/10

One of the stand out performers of the game, playing in that right wing back position, outwitted his opponents with his mazy runs while creating several brilliant goal scoring opportunities. He wasn’t really troubled defensively but if he can replicate another performance like that during the pre-season, he could well be a handy player to have in the first-team squad. 

Bielik: 6/10

One of the many youngsters named in the starting squad; the nineteen-year-old was strong in the tackle, made some great forward passes and stood his ground well.

Mertesacker: 8/10

The Gunner’s captain opened the scoring with a dubious overhead kick that came from some equally dubious defensive work but a good performance from the big German nonetheless.

Kolosinac: 7/10

The first of Arsenal’s summer additions started on the left-hand side of the back three and showed exactly why Arsenal signed him. Showing great strength to beat players off the ball, Kolasinac seems like a goliath at the back. A solid first showing. 

Coquelin: 5/10

Had an okay first half; made some good passes and contributed to play but gave the ball away on numerous occasions.

Bramall: 6/10

Bramall’s rise from non-league football to Arsenal is one akin to a fairytale. His first half performance was solid, showing his strength down the left as well as his electric pace. A good overall outing. 

Willock: 7/10

A good performance from the youngster. He read the game well, made some quality passes and made a great run from his own half to almost get Arsenal’s second. A very mature performance from a player who is only 17-years-old. 

Ozil: 6/10

Never one to be silent in games, Mesut showed his class with skilled passes and that reading of the game that the Arsenal fans love so much. We’re still yet to see him play with Alexandre Lacazette, what a duo those two could be. 

Walcott: 6.5/10

Had a few good goal-scoring opportunities as well as crewting a few but needs to be more clinical in front of goal. A good performance but not outstanding. 

Welbeck: 6/10

Like several of the other players in the first-half; Welbeck had a solid first-half, holding up play well that’s he’s known for as well as almost scoring on several occasions.

Notable Subs

Alexandre Lacazette: 7.5/10

The player every fan wanted to see and he didn’t disappoint. Arsenal’s new boy is off the mark, he looked reasonably good as he looked to link up in the attack and press the opposition. A solid first outing.

Olivier Giroud: 6/10

Made the run to open space for Lacazette but didn’t do much else. 

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 6.5/10

Looked sharp in the centre of the park. He’s got a real chance of starting at centre-midfield or wing-back.