• ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno: 7 - Often playing as the second goalkeeper since the arrival of Ramsdale, Leno impressed on his return. Made some key saves in the first half and looked neat on the ball. PA
    ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno: 7 - Often playing as the second goalkeeper since the arrival of Ramsdale, Leno impressed on his return. Made some key saves in the first half and looked neat on the ball. PA
  • Cedric: 6 - The full-back had a solid defensive display and often supported the team going forward whenever he could. Getty
    Cedric: 6 - The full-back had a solid defensive display and often supported the team going forward whenever he could. Getty
  • Ben White: 7 - White was a key figure on the ball, often driving from the back in possession which caused an issue for Leeds. He also defended well but had to be subbed off in the second half with an injury. Getty
    Ben White: 7 - White was a key figure on the ball, often driving from the back in possession which caused an issue for Leeds. He also defended well but had to be subbed off in the second half with an injury. Getty
  • Rob Holding: 6 - Playing a slightly more supportive role than his centre-back partner, Holding was solid and occasionally brought the ball out from defence when White did not. EPA
    Rob Holding: 6 - Playing a slightly more supportive role than his centre-back partner, Holding was solid and occasionally brought the ball out from defence when White did not. EPA
  • Sead Kolasinac: 6 - Kolasinac rarely put a foot wrong defensively, winning the majority of his duels but he wouldn’t venture forward too often. AP
    Sead Kolasinac: 6 - Kolasinac rarely put a foot wrong defensively, winning the majority of his duels but he wouldn’t venture forward too often. AP
  • Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 7 - The versatile player occupied midfield and impressed with his ability to find space and pick passes out going forward. EPA
    Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 7 - The versatile player occupied midfield and impressed with his ability to find space and pick passes out going forward. EPA
  • Mohamed Elneny: 5 - Often lost the ball in less than ideal areas in midfield, let down by a poor touch or accuracy. Reuters
    Mohamed Elneny: 5 - Often lost the ball in less than ideal areas in midfield, let down by a poor touch or accuracy. Reuters
  • Pepe: 7 - The winger struggled to get himself into the game, but headed back across goal for the opener, grabbing an assist. Getty
    Pepe: 7 - The winger struggled to get himself into the game, but headed back across goal for the opener, grabbing an assist. Getty
  • Emile Smith Rowe: 8 - The playmaker looked to influence throughout. He made four key passes and helped his side take control. Getty
    Emile Smith Rowe: 8 - The playmaker looked to influence throughout. He made four key passes and helped his side take control. Getty
  • Gabriel Martinelli:6 - Martinelli showed some of his ability in bursts but was unable to consistently cause problems. Getty
    Gabriel Martinelli:6 - Martinelli showed some of his ability in bursts but was unable to consistently cause problems. Getty
  • Eddie Nketiah: 7 - The young striker started well, though chances faded but he continued to work hard. He then took a chance when it mattered to double the lead. Getty
    Eddie Nketiah: 7 - The young striker started well, though chances faded but he continued to work hard. He then took a chance when it mattered to double the lead. Getty
  • SUBS: Calum Chambers (For White 55’): 8 - The defender scored with his first touch, heading in from a corner to give them the lead. The super-sub looked composed at the back. AFP
    SUBS: Calum Chambers (For White 55’): 8 - The defender scored with his first touch, heading in from a corner to give them the lead. The super-sub looked composed at the back. AFP
  • Alexandre Lacazette (For Smith Rowe 72’): 6 - The striker had little to do, though he did well to press and create a chance for himself late on. EPA
    Alexandre Lacazette (For Smith Rowe 72’): 6 - The striker had little to do, though he did well to press and create a chance for himself late on. EPA
  • Albert Sambi Lokonga (For Elneny 72’): 6 - Lokonga came on to help his side see out the match, doing well while looking confident to receive a pass. EPA
    Albert Sambi Lokonga (For Elneny 72’): 6 - Lokonga came on to help his side see out the match, doing well while looking confident to receive a pass. EPA
  • Nuno Tavares (For Holding 76’): 6 - Tavares came on for the injured Holding and had very little to do. Getty
    Nuno Tavares (For Holding 76’): 6 - Tavares came on for the injured Holding and had very little to do. Getty
  • LEEDS RATINGS: Illan Meslier: 6 - Little to do but was unable to make the key saves when they counted. The first goal just crept over the line before he could clear whilst he was beaten easily for the second. EPA
    LEEDS RATINGS: Illan Meslier: 6 - Little to do but was unable to make the key saves when they counted. The first goal just crept over the line before he could clear whilst he was beaten easily for the second. EPA
  • Cody Drameh:7 - A first-team debut for Drameh in a tough match. He struggled to begin with but slowly worked his way into having a solid game at right-back. EPA
    Cody Drameh:7 - A first-team debut for Drameh in a tough match. He struggled to begin with but slowly worked his way into having a solid game at right-back. EPA
  • Diego Llorente:7 - The Spanish centre-back looked a leader at the back before he was substituted, winning all of his duels and offering a lot of support to debutant Drameh. Getty
    Diego Llorente:7 - The Spanish centre-back looked a leader at the back before he was substituted, winning all of his duels and offering a lot of support to debutant Drameh. Getty
  • Pascal Struijk: 4 - The 22-year-old was neat on the ball, but defensively he struggled. He lost all of his duels. AP
    Pascal Struijk: 4 - The 22-year-old was neat on the ball, but defensively he struggled. He lost all of his duels. AP
  • Stuart Dallas: 5 - The versatile Dallas was used at left-back, but struggled to deal with the home side. Getty
    Stuart Dallas: 5 - The versatile Dallas was used at left-back, but struggled to deal with the home side. Getty
  • Kalvin Phillips: 7 - So often a key player for Leeds, Phillips showed his quality both on and off the ball. Getty
    Kalvin Phillips: 7 - So often a key player for Leeds, Phillips showed his quality both on and off the ball. Getty
  • Adam Forshaw: 6 - Forshaw only played 45 minutes on his road back to recovery from a difficult injury. He was relatively accurate with his passing but he did lose out on some key duels in the middle of the park. Getty
    Adam Forshaw: 6 - Forshaw only played 45 minutes on his road back to recovery from a difficult injury. He was relatively accurate with his passing but he did lose out on some key duels in the middle of the park. Getty
  • Jack Harrison: 6 - The winger caused problems for Arsenal in the first half, finding himself with time and space on the ball. He forced a low save from Leno, but struggled in the second half like the rest of his side. AFP
    Jack Harrison: 6 - The winger caused problems for Arsenal in the first half, finding himself with time and space on the ball. He forced a low save from Leno, but struggled in the second half like the rest of his side. AFP
  • Tyler Roberts: 5 - Roberts found it tough to influence before he was subbed off early in the second half. AFP
    Tyler Roberts: 5 - Roberts found it tough to influence before he was subbed off early in the second half. AFP
  • Daniel James: 6 - The most dangerous outlet for the away side, causing issues when running on the shoulder and finding space when they went direct. He could have scored in the first half, however a poor touch let him down. Getty
    Daniel James: 6 - The most dangerous outlet for the away side, causing issues when running on the shoulder and finding space when they went direct. He could have scored in the first half, however a poor touch let him down. Getty
  • Rodrigo: 5 - The striker started up front in the absence of Patrick Bamford, but was unable to cause many problems for the Arsenal backline. Getty
    Rodrigo: 5 - The striker started up front in the absence of Patrick Bamford, but was unable to cause many problems for the Arsenal backline. Getty
  • SUBS: Mateusz Klich (For Forshaw 46’): 5 - Klich came on in the second half but lost possession in midfield a few times as well as struggling to win duels in key areas. Getty
    SUBS: Mateusz Klich (For Forshaw 46’): 5 - Klich came on in the second half but lost possession in midfield a few times as well as struggling to win duels in key areas. Getty
  • Joe Gelhardt (For Roberts 53’): 6 - Gelhardt showed sparks of potential, creating uncertainty when he brought the ball forward and was driving at the defence. Getty
    Joe Gelhardt (For Roberts 53’): 6 - Gelhardt showed sparks of potential, creating uncertainty when he brought the ball forward and was driving at the defence. Getty
  • Liam Cooper (For Llorente 59’): 4 - Made a key error leading to a goal for the home side, heading back poorly towards goalkeeper Meslier that Nketiah latched upon. Getty
    Liam Cooper (For Llorente 59’): 4 - Made a key error leading to a goal for the home side, heading back poorly towards goalkeeper Meslier that Nketiah latched upon. Getty
  • Crysencio Summerville (For Rodrigo 70’): 6 - The youngster was rarely involved as Bielsa rang the changes. EPA
    Crysencio Summerville (For Rodrigo 70’): 6 - The youngster was rarely involved as Bielsa rang the changes. EPA
  • Sam Greenwood (For James 70’): 6 -Greenwood only got a few touches as his side struggled in the second half. PA
    Sam Greenwood (For James 70’): 6 -Greenwood only got a few touches as his side struggled in the second half. PA

Sport

Football

Arsenal v Leeds player ratings: Smith Rowe: 8, Nketiah 7; Struijk 4, Phillips 7

Gunners boss impressed by Nketiah in League Cup victory

Luke Thrower

October 27, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Mikel Arteta backed Eddie Nketiah to become a “top, top player” after he struck in Arsenal's League Cup fourth-round win over Leeds.

The Gunners secured a 2-0 victory as Calum Chambers scored just 21 seconds after coming off the bench before former Leeds loanee Nketiah tapped in.

It was just the 22-year-old’s second appearance of the season, his first coming in the third-round success over AFC Wimbledon, and he is out of contract in the summer.

England’s all-time record goalscorer at Under-21 level saw a move to Crystal Palace break down in the summer but, despite his limited minutes, Arteta is keen for Nketiah to sign a new deal with the club.

“We had a situation in the summer that we tried to resolve and we couldn’t either way,” he said.

“I have full belief that he is going to be a top, top player and hopefully at Arsenal. I’m happy to have him, he is our player, I regard him really highly and from my side I want him to stay.”

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Updated: October 27, 2021, 3:33 AM
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