• ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno – 8: Commanded area when needed and then avoided a really tense additional five minutes for his side by saving Jorginho’s penalty at the death. EPA
    ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno – 8: Commanded area when needed and then avoided a really tense additional five minutes for his side by saving Jorginho’s penalty at the death. EPA
  • Hector Bellerin – 6: Was a little poor when found himself in promising areas, but headed clear at back post at start of second half. Part of strong defensive display. AFP
    Hector Bellerin – 6: Was a little poor when found himself in promising areas, but headed clear at back post at start of second half. Part of strong defensive display. AFP
  • Rob Holding – 7: Although leaves a lot to be desired when in possession, displayed expert timing in the challenge and blocked well. Even better given partner in central defence. Reuters
    Rob Holding – 7: Although leaves a lot to be desired when in possession, displayed expert timing in the challenge and blocked well. Even better given partner in central defence. Reuters
  • Pablo Mari – 5: Making Premier League debut this season, was booked for cynical foul on 15 minutes before recovering well. But then gave away penalty late on by diving in on Mount. Clumsy. Reuters
    Pablo Mari – 5: Making Premier League debut this season, was booked for cynical foul on 15 minutes before recovering well. But then gave away penalty late on by diving in on Mount. Clumsy. Reuters
  • Kieran Tierney – 7: As usual, plenty of energy getting forward, and provided a real outlet on the left. Clever bit of play won his side their penalty. Reuters
    Kieran Tierney – 7: As usual, plenty of energy getting forward, and provided a real outlet on the left. Clever bit of play won his side their penalty. Reuters
  • Mohamed Elneny – 6: Not much influence with the ball, but plugged gaps in hosts’ midfield. Thrashed crossbar with a powerful shot when corner rebounded. Reuters
    Mohamed Elneny – 6: Not much influence with the ball, but plugged gaps in hosts’ midfield. Thrashed crossbar with a powerful shot when corner rebounded. Reuters
  • Granit Xhaka – 7: One of those days when his technique trumps temperament. Curled lovely free-kick beyond Mendy just before half time to double team’s lead. EPA
    Granit Xhaka – 7: One of those days when his technique trumps temperament. Curled lovely free-kick beyond Mendy just before half time to double team’s lead. EPA
  • Emile Smith Rowe – 7: A real throwback with socks rolled down, he even had the temerity to nutmeg Kante. Taken off just after the hour, but fine performance. AFP
    Emile Smith Rowe – 7: A real throwback with socks rolled down, he even had the temerity to nutmeg Kante. Taken off just after the hour, but fine performance. AFP
  • Gabriel Martinelli – 6: Was a constant threat and could’ve had a goal himself if wasn’t for Mendy. Subbed on 70 minutes as works way back to full fitness. EPA
    Gabriel Martinelli – 6: Was a constant threat and could’ve had a goal himself if wasn’t for Mendy. Subbed on 70 minutes as works way back to full fitness. EPA
  • Bukayo Saka – 8: Had been relatively quiet until he scored Arsenal’s third, a cross-cum-shot that sliced off his weaker foot. The smirk suggested strongly that he didn’t mean it. EPA
    Bukayo Saka – 8: Had been relatively quiet until he scored Arsenal’s third, a cross-cum-shot that sliced off his weaker foot. The smirk suggested strongly that he didn’t mean it. EPA
  • Alexandre Lacazette – 8: Lead the line well and kept his cool to convert the spot-kick to kick-start proceedings. Should’ve had another late on after a Mendy mistake. Reuters
    Alexandre Lacazette – 8: Lead the line well and kept his cool to convert the spot-kick to kick-start proceedings. Should’ve had another late on after a Mendy mistake. Reuters
  • SUB: Joe Willock – 6: Brought on just after the hour and was presented a chance almost immediately, but lifted well over the crossbar from the angle. AFP
    SUB: Joe Willock – 6: Brought on just after the hour and was presented a chance almost immediately, but lifted well over the crossbar from the angle. AFP
  • SUB: Nicolas Pepe – 5: Introduced for the final 20 minutes, although didn’t see much of the ball. Freshness helped his side see out the game. EPA
    SUB: Nicolas Pepe – 5: Introduced for the final 20 minutes, although didn’t see much of the ball. Freshness helped his side see out the game. EPA
  • SUB: SUB: Shkodran Mustafi – N/A: Too late a sub to make an impression. EPA
    SUB: SUB: Shkodran Mustafi – N/A: Too late a sub to make an impression. EPA
  • CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 5: If were picking holes, would say Xhaka’s free-kick wasn’t quite in corner, while his awful error nearly gifted Lacazette a second. Redeemed himself well, though. EPA
    CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 5: If were picking holes, would say Xhaka’s free-kick wasn’t quite in corner, while his awful error nearly gifted Lacazette a second. Redeemed himself well, though. EPA
  • Reece James – 4: Conceded the penalty that gave Arsenal the upper hand, even if the contact on Tierney was minimal. Was slack in defence at other times, too. Typically, his delivery was decent. EPA
    Reece James – 4: Conceded the penalty that gave Arsenal the upper hand, even if the contact on Tierney was minimal. Was slack in defence at other times, too. Typically, his delivery was decent. EPA
  • Kurt Zouma – 5: Didn’t really do too much wrong, but was part of a defence that was breached three times. Often was tasked with carrying ball out from the back. Reuters
    Kurt Zouma – 5: Didn’t really do too much wrong, but was part of a defence that was breached three times. Often was tasked with carrying ball out from the back. Reuters
  • Thiago Silva – 5: Similar to Zouma, yet carried serious threat in the opposition box. Would’ve been disappointed not to keep down one header, while really annoyed to head wide to pull it back to 3-2. EPA
    Thiago Silva – 5: Similar to Zouma, yet carried serious threat in the opposition box. Would’ve been disappointed not to keep down one header, while really annoyed to head wide to pull it back to 3-2. EPA
  • Ben Chilwell – 4: Looked likely to provide Chelsea with a potent weapon in attack, then faded from the game. Allowed Saka to get into position to score, however fortunate the goal. EPA
    Ben Chilwell – 4: Looked likely to provide Chelsea with a potent weapon in attack, then faded from the game. Allowed Saka to get into position to score, however fortunate the goal. EPA
  • N’Golo Kante – 4: The odd misplaced pass, which was uncharacteristic, and then a needless foul that set up Xhaka’s free-kick. Subbed off on 73 minutes. EPA
    N’Golo Kante – 4: The odd misplaced pass, which was uncharacteristic, and then a needless foul that set up Xhaka’s free-kick. Subbed off on 73 minutes. EPA
  • Mateo Kovacic – 5: Would’ve felt slightly irked at being withdrawn at half time, given he offered the away side energy in opening 45 minutes. Sure he thought others were more deserving of the hook. AFP
    Mateo Kovacic – 5: Would’ve felt slightly irked at being withdrawn at half time, given he offered the away side energy in opening 45 minutes. Sure he thought others were more deserving of the hook. AFP
  • Mason Mount – 4: An early free-kick glanced the outside of the post, and did win the late penalty, but everything in between pretty poor. Surprising that he played the entire match. AFP
    Mason Mount – 4: An early free-kick glanced the outside of the post, and did win the late penalty, but everything in between pretty poor. Surprising that he played the entire match. AFP
  • Christian Pulisic – 6: One bright note for Frank Lampard’s team, albeit hardly a consolation. Had three or four dangerous dribbles, and then showed nice feet to help set up the Chelsea goal. AFP
    Christian Pulisic – 6: One bright note for Frank Lampard’s team, albeit hardly a consolation. Had three or four dangerous dribbles, and then showed nice feet to help set up the Chelsea goal. AFP
  • Timo Werner – 4: So wasteful in the first half, encapsulated by his tame effort from just inside the area. Longest run without goal since 2016, stretching more than 12 hours. Subbed at half time. EPA
    Timo Werner – 4: So wasteful in the first half, encapsulated by his tame effort from just inside the area. Longest run without goal since 2016, stretching more than 12 hours. Subbed at half time. EPA
  • Tammy Abraham – 6: Didn’t do much to justify selection ahead of Olivier Giroud. However, got the goal to drag his team back into it, albeit only following the now-obligatory VAR check. AFP
    Tammy Abraham – 6: Didn’t do much to justify selection ahead of Olivier Giroud. However, got the goal to drag his team back into it, albeit only following the now-obligatory VAR check. AFP
  • SUB: Jorginho – 4: Brought on at half time, provided some tempo but then spoiled it by missing his penalty, which would’ve given visitors glimmer of hope in injury time. Run-up remains questionable. EPA
    SUB: Jorginho – 4: Brought on at half time, provided some tempo but then spoiled it by missing his penalty, which would’ve given visitors glimmer of hope in injury time. Run-up remains questionable. EPA
  • SUB: Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6: Introduced alongside Jorginho for the second half, was Chelsea’s main attacking outlet. Looked sharp, crossed well, including the ball into Abraham for the goal. Reuters
    SUB: Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6: Introduced alongside Jorginho for the second half, was Chelsea’s main attacking outlet. Looked sharp, crossed well, including the ball into Abraham for the goal. Reuters
  • SUB: Kai Havertz – 4: On for Kante in the 73rd minute, didn’t have enough time to make his mark. Still very much finding his feet, after the money-spinning move and then illness. EPA
    SUB: Kai Havertz – 4: On for Kante in the 73rd minute, didn’t have enough time to make his mark. Still very much finding his feet, after the money-spinning move and then illness. EPA

Bukayo Saka 8, Alexandre Lacazette 8; Reece James 4, Jorginho 4 - Arsenal v Chelsea player ratings


John McAuley
  • English
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Arsenal's young players came to the fore on Saturday in a 3-1 victory over London rivals Chelsea - their first Premier League win in nearly two months.

A calmly taken penalty from Alexandre Lacazette, a sensational free kick from Granit Xhaka and a bizarre goal from Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal all three points at Emirates Stadium.

But it was a nervy finish for the hosts as Chelsea got a consolation goal from Tammy Abraham in the 85th minute after he was initially flagged for offside. The visitors were then awarded a penalty in injury time but Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved Jorginho’s shot.