Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal Player Rating and Match Reaction

[HCZ_Reborn]

Raya 7 - Much like in the first leg, didn’t have a great deal to do but did what was needed (although getting himself booked for time wasting wasn’t needed)


Timber 7 - He needs to cut down on the foul throws but other than that good performance


Saliba 7 - Brain fart was a slight taint on otherwise assured night


Kiwior 8 - Continues to impress me, he might not be as naturally gifted as Gabriel or Saliba but he does the simple things right and doesn’t panic


Lewis-Skelly 7.5 - Another solid night for the youngster



Partey 6 - Bit pissed off with him for getting himself suspended for first leg of semi final (just as well this time we are playing at home first)



Rice 9 - I’m not going to lie I still don’t think he’s the worlds most skilful footballer, but he’s got a real big match mentality and frankly I think we should consider making him Captain next season



Odegaard 6 - And I think that’s generous, I don’t believe a player of his calibre becomes shit overnight but really he needs to sit a few games out


Martinelli 7 - Once through on goal, there was no doubt about the outcome


Merino 7.5 - Our top scorer in 2025 was chief assist maker tonight



Saka 8 - Would have been higher if not for the silly pel which I think has to be put down to nerves. Like Rice showed his level at the Bernabeu


Well I don’t know what we were worried about :lol:. To put it bluntly though this was a night where hype was not met with follow through. I think there were definite nervous moments (most self inflicted), but really if we’d won on the night by a bigger margin I don’t think anyone would have said it flattered us.

They were no where near us over two legs, Mbappe looks like a square peg in a round hole in that Madrid team.

I’m almost at the point of wanting to chant “can we play you every week?”

Anyway onto the semis

[Mac76]

Rice is at least a 9 although I'd argue nearer to 10

Also Timber was excellent, 8.5 at least, most of the others are 8 with the exception of Partey, Raya, Saka and Saliba all of whom had moments of real dumbness, as for Ode, yes 6 is generous

[KSE Comedy Club]

Yep Rice is deffo 9.5 - absolutley phenominal performance from him.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I’ve bumped Rice up to a 9, let it never be said I summarily dismiss the views of others here

(Edit - Actually that can be said most of the time, it’s not my fault you all have lousy opinions :lol:)

[KSE Comedy Club]

I’ve bumped Rice up to a 9, let it never be said I summarily dismiss the views of others here

(Edit - Actually that can be said most of the time, it’s not my fault you all have lousy opinions :lol:)

That's incredibly honourable of you :hug:

[selassie]

I thought most of the players were 8 or 9 ratings over both legs, Rice was obviously the star of the show, outstanding both games, Partey was very good too, in fact both him and Rice completely controlled the Midfield over both legs, they are both superb in big games and have been over the past few seasons.

Special mention to Kiwior too, he was a collosus last night, flawless.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Did I say how much I love Declan Rice - what an absolute beast of a player, MOTM in both legs and completely dominated the big occasion.

He will win us trophies.

[Marc Overmars]

Didn’t realise we are at home for the first leg. Thought we were away.

Don’t think it changes much though. After last night I like the idea of PSG being under pressure to come at us, I trust us defensively. All about getting a lead in the first leg though.

[WMUG]

Decent result, tbf. All things considered, I'll take it.

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://youtu.be/Vu3Pg-woTcQ?si=z-AJHAactVmN4RrT

[KSE Comedy Club]

Didn’t realise we are at home for the first leg. Thought we were away.

Don’t think it changes much though. After last night I like the idea of PSG being under pressure to come at us, I trust us defensively. All about getting a lead in the first leg though.

Think I would have preffered being away first, what with Partey not available now.

Oh well, we will have to do more of the same again :scarf:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Think I would have preffered being away first, what with Partey not available now.

Oh well, we will have to do more of the same again :scarf:

He’s only suspended for the first leg, so is available for the game in the Parc de Princes

And out of those two games I’d rather have him available for the away leg

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I'm not sure I like this format where you not playing the deciding leg at home seems not to be based on merit (or rankings).

Anyway, as far as we are concerned, I think it favours us not to play a deciding leg in front of our fans, especially with the way our entire season has panned out with notable subpar performances churned out in front of them ( Citeh and RM being clear exceptions).

Also having Partey available for the deciding leg is a plus IMO.

[Marc Overmars]

Old man Jorginho will have to roll back the years. At least for his sake he will be up against slight midfielders who’ll play football rather than just use pace and athleticism.

[Mac76]

Special mention to Kiwior too, he was a collosus last night, flawless.

Indeed he was, it just shows that in his natural position and with some minutes he is a good player, I'd like to see if we can keep him so we can rotate with Gabriel a bit more

[Mac76]

Old man Jorginho will have to roll back the years. At least for his sake he will be up against slight midfielders who’ll play football rather than just use pace and athleticism.

I'll take any kind of Jorg, given he's injured, hopefully he'll be over it by then

I'd prefer we were away for the first leg, partly just because it would be nice to celebrate in the stadium if we get through

[HCZ_Reborn]

Indeed he was, it just shows that in his natural position and with some minutes he is a good player, I'd like to see if we can keep him so we can rotate with Gabriel a bit more

Yes I would rather keep him as well

[Marc Overmars]

Yeah top marks for Kiwior, always seemed fragile with confidence but this tie was the making of him.

Also Timber and MLS have made the full back slots their own. It’s crazy how these areas of the pitch seem to change and evolve every season for us.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yeah top marks for Kiwior, always seemed fragile with confidence but this tie was the making of him.

Also Timber and MLS have made the full back slots their own. It’s crazy how these areas of the pitch seem to change and evolve every season for us.

Due to his consistency, I consider Timber a contender for player of the season

Rice was of course fantastic in both legs against Real Madrid, but to be honest I don’t think he’s had a great season overall. I still think he struggles in the no8 position when we play teams that will sit deep….and in many ways a central midfielder is only as good as the time and space they are afforded on the ball.


I think there are still things he does that we could well do without (time wasting etc) but he is quicker than Ben White and he seems to link up just as well with Saka

[IBK]

So pleased with last night's performance and result! No issue with HCZ's ratings - but as after the first leg I want to praise the quality of the whole team and the manager.

We were playing the occasion as much as the RM players - and the mental fortitude that Arteta has forged in our team, to rise to the big occasions, is very impressive.

There will be the inevitable mealy mouthed comments from some (I've already seen some) about how RM are not the force they were, and how PSG is the team to watch in this competition, but I guess this is inevitable until we actually win something. In the meantime, I think it is churlish not to acknowledge the sheer quality of coaching and execution that in hindsight made this almost a non-competition between a bunch of talented individuals and an extremely well-oiled team that you can see has complete trust and dedication to what they have been coached to do. This is why we can be quietly confident going forwards.

It is so good to shove much of the pre-match 'analysis' down some commentators' throats. Alyson Rudd in the Times went so far as to write an article entitled 'Winning 3-0 has made it harder for Arsenal — Real will be liberated' :yikes: Then we had all the remontada nonsense from the Madrid camp. I don't know any Gooners who weren't nervous about last night's game given Madrid's pedigree - but it's almost as though many pundits were out to bring us down, and licking their lips for an Arsenal capitulation. It was a joy to see that our players were unaffected by all the noise and clearly confident and clear sighted.

Finally a word about the referee. We were worried that the Madrid crowd, and ther team's antics, might make him a 'homer' quite the opposite, and I admire his refusal to be affected. It was almost an epiphany for me to watch us play a game officiated without bias and competently.

[WMUG]

I'm not sure I like this format where you not playing the deciding leg at home seems not to be based on merit (or rankings).
.

I've heard that's been a complaint from the teams involved and UEFA are looking at making it so that whoever finished higher in the group stage automatically gets the 2nd leg at home in the knockouts.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I've got to disagree with you all on Timber.

He's been great this season and obviously has been Mr Reliable when so many players have either succumbed to injury, poor form or both.

However, attacking wise, he still doesn't enjoy the sort of telepathy White has with Saka and Odegaard....and though I don't want to make excuses for Odegaard, I think he'd play better if White could manage to stay fit.

Also though MLS has done pretty well, I still think he should not play 95% of the games as LB (as Arteta seems to insist for any of his starters). He's still honing his craft and making mistakes. Also not every ref will take a liking to his style of play, or to be more specific his need to conjure up fouls when holding the ball (I don't mean this in a negative way). There are quite a number of situations where Caliafiori or someone else should play ahead of him.

Again both players are doing great jobs, but I wouldn't necessarily have them nailed as starters, especially Timber, due to how I feel White has been so important to a lot of our attacking success under Arteta ( not even mentioned what he brings in set pieces).

[IBK]

Still feeling the warm glow, so wanted to add that it's even more of an achievement to have achieved a 5-0 against RM with no striker; our best defender this season out and an 18 year old with about 20(?) starts for the club.

Absolute flowers to Merino; MLS and Kiwor for making this irrelevant.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Our stats vs Real Madrid:

P4 - W3 - D1 - L0 - F6 - A1

I think that's pretty decent against the legendary champions.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Not going to lie, still want to finish 2nd

Ipswich away should be a winnable fixture, Newcastle away at Villa, City away at Everton, Forest away at Spurs, Chelsea away at Fulham. I’m hoping we can pretty much secure 2nd this weekend and can focus on the Champions league

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Not going to lie, still want to finish 2nd

Ipswich away should be a winnable fixture, Newcastle away at Villa, City away at Everton, Forest away at Spurs, Chelsea away at Fulham. I’m hoping we can pretty much secure 2nd this weekend and can focus on the Champions league

Just keep winning. Momentum breeds momentum. The idea one can separate giving up in one competition to focus on another is surely debunked by now.

[Marc Overmars]

Ipswich away and Palace at home are our next 2 fixtures before PSG. Games we should win but any dropped points in those then I think we will be caught. Can’t play Newcastle and Liverpool with 2nd still up in the air.

[IBK]

Not going to lie, still want to finish 2nd

Ipswich away should be a winnable fixture, Newcastle away at Villa, City away at Everton, Forest away at Spurs, Chelsea away at Fulham. I’m hoping we can pretty much secure 2nd this weekend and can focus on the Champions league

I think this is imperative. As Shaquiri says, we need to take momentum and belief in the project into the Summer and beyond. Losing our EPL place will be counter to this.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Don Carlo kept it classy, apparently he wants us to go on and win it. Lesser managers would have blamed the officiating which seemed to be in our favour, especially in the 2nd leg.

I wish him the best.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14622861/amp/Mikel-Arteta-reveals-Carlo-Ancelotti-Arsenal-Real-Madrid-Champions-League.html

[Letters]

Well I don’t know what we were worried about :lol:.
I expected a lot more from Real last night.
I remember back in the day when clubs like them used to hand our arses to us. All game we'd be hanging on for dear life. Last night we controlled it and dealt with everything they tried to throw at us fairly comfortably. Their only goal was from a rare mistake and even then that didn't get them going.

I suspect PSG will be a sterner test, but it was a very mature and professional performance last night.

[Mac76]

Just keep winning. Momentum breeds momentum. The idea one can separate giving up in one competition to focus on another is surely debunked by now.

Is it?

I'd say it was the opposite - prior to both RM games we, err, drew both our PL games, partly because Arteta - rightly - rotated and rested players

Arteta's finally realised that sometimes you really do need to put your eggs in one basket

People here saying 'I still want to finish second' as though there's any argument with that

So do I, the difference is I equally wouldn't give a damn if we finish fifth if it was because we were diligent with managing the squad and it meant we won the CL, or even made the final and took it close

[Chippy]

Sorry guys, but I wanted your thoughts.
I was reading a Facebook post from an Arsenal page earlier and there were a few comments on there where some Gooners are worried that the scum will win the Europa League. (A) Because it would piss on our bonfire and (B) it would give them financial help by getting into the Champions League next season. I have to say, it is annoying me a little bit as well :lol:

[dazthegooner]

Nah won't be the spuds because (A) They're shit (B)They're shit and (C) can see Manure pubbing their way to it :blink:

[Mac76]

One can never be complacent but I hope you're right re Man Ure

[Chippy]

Nah won't be the spuds because (A) They're shit (B)They're shit and (C) can see Manure pubbing their way to it :blink:

I hope that you are right :pray:

[Chippy]

One can never be complacent but I hope you're right re Man Ure

We know Bodit Gimps are a joke so they (Spuds) are basically in the final. Manure are shit so Athletico are our only hope!

[Marc Overmars]

Sorry guys, but I wanted your thoughts.
I was reading a Facebook post from an Arsenal page earlier and there were a few comments on there where some Gooners are worried that the scum will win the Europa League. (A) Because it would piss on our bonfire and (B) it would give them financial help by getting into the Champions League next season. I have to say, it is annoying me a little bit as well :lol:

Obviously want Spurs out ASAP but if we won the CL, literally nothing can piss on that bonfire. It’s the pinnacle of club football.

If anything, we could piss on their bonfire and it would actually be the most Spurs thing ever. They finally win a trophy at the same time we win the CL. :lol:

[Mac76]

We know Bodit Gimps are a joke so they (Spuds) are basically in the final. Manure are shit so Athletico are our only hope!

Don't forget Spuds are the only team to lose to Van Horselroy's Leicester, Bodo can do this :good:

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Obviously want Spurs out ASAP but if we won the CL, literally nothing can piss on that bonfire. It’s the pinnacle of club football.

If anything, we could piss on their bonfire and it would actually be the most Spurs thing ever. They finally win a trophy at the same time we win the CL. :lol:
:lol: :gp:

[HCZ_Reborn]

:lol: :gp:

Agree with this, plus it would be funny to play them in the Super Cup

[Mac76]

I never want Spuds to win anything ever, neither do I ever enjoy us playing them (until after the final whistle if we've won)

The only thing that will be is funny is their being relegated, or even better disbanded and the Toilet Bowl turned into a sewage works

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don’t think any of us want them to win anything, the point is more that if we won the European Cup…I wouldn’t give a shit about their Europa league win (I don’t think they will win it)

Don’t agree about wanting them relegated, the north london derby is a special fixture and wouldn’t be without it (even for a season), same with St Totteringham’s day.

Disappointed that they got through against Frankfurt but I really just don’t think about that club that much.

[Chippy]

Obviously want Spurs out ASAP but if we won the CL, literally nothing can piss on that bonfire. It’s the pinnacle of club football.

If anything, we could piss on their bonfire and it would actually be the most Spurs thing ever. They finally win a trophy at the same time we win the CL. :lol:

I didn't think of that :d
That would be brilliant!
It is the opposite of 2019 when we got to the Europa league final and they got to the CL final. That was the longest week of my life :angry:

[Mac76]

@hcz, if Spuds went down we'd still have St T's Day, it would just be on the first day of the season :lol:

And I hate the NLD, just want to get it over with, plus I don't agree with the whole rivals thing, our rivals are big clubs like Citeh, Liverpool etc, Spuds are an irrelevance, it's only the delusion of their fans and the media that they're a 'big club'

[HCZ_Reborn]

It’s an opinion, I would probably suggest it’s not a widely held one amongst the Arsenal fan base. That and you speak to the old Arsenal legends and they would say how when the fixture list was published that the first fixture they’d look for was the NLD, that and they would teach the young foreign players the importance of the rivalry and local bragging rights.

I think about it in the following way. If I didn’t support Arsenal I wouldn’t give a tuppeny fuck about Spurs one way or the other. I think even if we lose to Spurs or they finish above us one season it’s disappointing but it won’t ultimately matter because I think we will always be the bigger club, and actually it’s a form of flattery that they’ve tried to emulate us and hilarious that they’ve failed.

But beyond the rivalry, I don’t hate them…I consider their existence as a club invaluable because it’s part of what makes Arsenal unique. I feel the same way you do about Spurs about Chelsea, I think they are a scumbag club full of scumbag fans and the last trophy they came about honestly was the Fa cup in 2000.
I’d like to see them and City scattered to the winds and I don’t think football would be any worse off for it.

[Chippy]

It’s an opinion, I would probably suggest it’s not a widely held one amongst the Arsenal fan base. That and you speak to the old Arsenal legends and they would say how when the fixture list was published that the first fixture they’d look for was the NLD, that and they would teach the young foreign players the importance of the rivalry and local bragging rights.

I think about it in the following way. If I didn’t support Arsenal I wouldn’t give a tuppeny fuck about Spurs one way or the other. I think even if we lose to Spurs or they finish above us one season it’s disappointing but it won’t ultimately matter because I think we will always be the bigger club, and actually it’s a form of flattery that they’ve tried to emulate us and hilarious that they’ve failed.

But beyond the rivalry, I don’t hate them…I consider their existence as a club invaluable because it’s part of what makes Arsenal unique. I feel the same way you do about Spurs about Chelsea, I think they are a scumbag club full of scumbag fans and the last trophy they came about honestly was the Fa cup in 2000.
I’d like to see them and City scattered to the winds and I don’t think football would be any worse off for it.

Really good post.
I am an old fart (58) and the NLD brings back mixed memories (being at WHL when we lost 5-0 and 1-0 in the FA cup 3rd round in 82?) added to that was the agro with their fans in and outside the ground. My point is, I will always hate them with a passion. I would actually love them to be relegated and go out of business :)

[HCZ_Reborn]

Really good post.
I am an old fart (58) and the NLD brings back mixed memories (being at WHL when we lost 5-0 and 1-0 in the FA cup 3rd round in 82?) added to that was the agro with their fans in and outside the ground. My point is, I will always hate them with a passion. I would actually love them to be relegated and go out of business :)

Maybe it is a relative age thing. I’m 41, I’m not a constant match goer and I’ve only ever been to the one NLD. There’s banter and chanting, and the fans were seperated from each other probably quite wisely. But I tend to think anyone Spurs or Arsenal who turns violent against another set of fans for any reason other than self defence is a cunt….and I’m glad that the days of fans kicking the shit out of each other is in many respects a thing of the past. I can accept of course that had I been set upon by Spurs fans I’d be rather resentful of them and their club. But my experience of Spurs fans is somewhat different, over the years I’ve probably known more Spurs fans than Arsenal ones. We had our banter when the NLD came about and if you won you would crow, and if you lost you’d have to accept it back in your direction but certainly never fell out with anyone over it.
Us singing We Hate Tottenham on match days is for me an important part of the club culture and I think it would be diminished without them in the premier league. Singing “Are you Tottenham in disguise?” At Real Madrid was especially delicious.
I think in sport you are defined not just by your achievements but your rivalries. So whilst I understand what you’re saying….i wouldn’t be without Spurs…their existence pushes us.

[Chippy]

Maybe it is a relative age thing. I’m 41, I’m not a constant match goer and I’ve only ever been to the one NLD. There’s banter and chanting, and the fans were seperated from each other probably quite wisely. But I tend to think anyone Spurs or Arsenal who turns violent against another set of fans for any reason other than self defence is a cunt….and I’m glad that the days of fans kicking the shit out of each other is in many respects a thing of the past. I can accept of course that had I been set upon by Spurs fans I’d be rather resentful of them and their club. But my experience of Spurs fans is somewhat different, over the years I’ve probably known more Spurs fans than Arsenal ones. We had our banter when the NLD came about and if you won you would crow, and if you lost you’d have to accept it back in your direction but certainly never fell out with anyone over it.
Us singing We Hate Tottenham on match days is for me an important part of the club culture and I think it would be diminished without them in the premier league. Singing “Are you Tottenham in disguise?” At Real Madrid was especially delicious.
I think in sport you are defined not just by your achievements but your rivalries. So whilst I understand what you’re saying….i wouldn’t be without Spurs…their existence pushes us.

You make some really good points there.
Things are indeed very different with the fans and violence these days (thank god). As a 15 year old visiting their ground was scary and crapping myself when they got into the North Bank at Highbury was just as bad. I should move on, but old habits die hard, lol. ;)

[Mac76]

They've some really nasty fans for sure, and the ones who aren't nasty are just plain pathetic, thinking they should be winning things as though they're entitled in some way

[HCZ_Reborn]

They've some really nasty fans for sure, and the ones who aren't nasty are just plain pathetic, thinking they should be winning things as though they're entitled in some way

Would it surprise you to learn that the same has been said about our fans? (Especially the entitled thing)

Every fan base has its share of absolute pieces of shit.

I would have to say that in the past neither Arsenal or Spurs have really had fans associated with the far right for instance (although we did have Osama Bin Laden amongst our number) can’t say the same for Chelsea

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Agree with this, plus it would be funny to play them in the Super Cup

Hmmmm..... bringing that up has changed my mind., it's probably better they don't win it.

Actually I wouldn't want to face Man U either in a Super Cup final....I am firmly team Bilbao vs Bodo now.

[Niall_Quinn]

Martinelli - 7 - blind, to put it mildly. 10 is the correct answer. Covered 100 yards up and down all night long and STILL had the juice to put Madrid to bed in the 93rd? That's 10 - not 7. Saka slso 10 - same gig. Those Arsenal boys on the flanks, Madrid had no clue how to deal with that energy. Martinelli and Saka destroyed them.