Arsenal 2-0 Olympiakos Player Ratings and Match Reaction

Raya 7.5 - Made good save first half, and made himself big when coming to claim the ball, when you know…he isn’t


White 6.5 - Did ok defensively, but have to say he wasn’t never lightning quick to begin with but yeah offers nothing going forward, even his crosses were half hearted


Saliba 7 - Did what he needed to do


Gabriel 7 - Strong when he needed to be, hopefully sub was just a precaution


Lewis-Skelly 7 - Went on a mazy run through midfield second half, wish he’d done more of that. Wish our actual midfielders would have done that


Zubimendi 5 - I have the same reaction to Zubimendi, as English people on holiday abroad when they encounter a bidet in their hotel bathroom. What is it, what does it do?


Merino 6 - Scarcely better, though did have a few chances in the box


Odegaard 6 - Sprayed some nice passes about first half, sprayed the back of his shorts in the second half


Martinelli 6.5 - Managed to profit off Bane hitting the bar to score but missed a sitter at the beginning


Gyokeres 6.5 - Unlucky not to be on the score sheet first half but looked increasingly isolated second


Trossard 5.5 - Skied a few efforts but largely useless



Subs


Timber 7 - Is there any doubt he’s the first choice right back now


Rice 6 - The hard work is there, the skill to play through a high press is not


Saka 7.5 - Seemed appropriate that he scored given he was the only substitute to make us look dangerous


Eze 5.5 - Two champions league games and he’s looked shit in both


Mosquera N/A - Did well given the state of the game, but wasn’t on long enough to give him a fair score



I was reminded the film Taken and the line “I lack a very particular set of skills” - namely the ability to play through a press. Although with some of the casual passing in the first half the actual line “Your arrogance offends me” would also be appropriate.

I want to memory hole this game, it brought me nothing approximating enjoyment. The only thing that stopped it being like the shit show against Shakhtar last season was the second goal.

Olympiakos actually impressed me, they seemed to have boundless energy to get under our skin more than a wife we’ve bitterly resented for years. It was mainly shit housing but there was the odd bit of skill, and actually as the game went on their passing was more purposeful than ours.

Best thing about this new group stage, we don’t have to play them again (well probably not, could be unlucky enough to get them in the knockouts). The ugly deed is done, time to think of more pleasant things (like assisted suicide) and move on

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn

Olympiakos actually impressed me, they seemed to have boundless energy to get under our skin more than a wife we’ve bitterly resented for years. It was mainly shit housing but there was the odd bit of skill, and actually as the game went on their passing was more purposeful than ours.

Best thing about this new group stage, we don’t have to play them again (well probably not, could be unlucky enough to get them in the knockouts). The ugly deed is done, time to think of more pleasant things (like assisted suicide) and move on

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Couldn't agree more.

Only changes I'd make to your ratings are Odegard - yes he faded a bit but still assisted Saka at the end. I also thought that his synergy with Gyok was encouraging. For the first hour he looked something like the player we needed him to be - I'd give him an 8.
Also don't think Eze was shit - I'd give him a par score. I was really pleased to see Saka shining again.

We looked mustard as a team in the first half - despite the changes. It was a shame we were profligate when being so on top. I do wonder whether the lack of options up top with Havertz and Noni out (also Jesus of course), means that our front players are not sparkling as much as our MF and defence where we have been able to give key players a break. Also, I wonder whether Martinelli's; Gyok's and Trossard's failure to pick out teammates in favour of blocked or missed shots on one or two occasions speaks to their despertion to cement their places (or in Gyok's case - justify his)? With Gyok I do see signs of progress - he needs to start finishing chances that fall to him though.

For me our drop off in the second half was down both to the fact that Olympiakos are actually not as shit as they appeared first half, and also a mental thing. The fact that we were able to carve them open at will in the first 45 bred a little complacency/lack of focus IMO, and I thought that we reverted to 3rd gear.

Enjoyed the first half, not so much the second. But it's points on the board and we move on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn

Raya 7.5 - Made good save first half, and made himself big when coming to claim the ball, when you know…he isn’t


White 6.5 - Did ok defensively, but have to say he wasn’t never lightning quick to begin with but yeah offers nothing going forward, even his crosses were half hearted


Saliba 7 - Did what he needed to do


Gabriel 7 - Strong when he needed to be, hopefully sub was just a precaution


Lewis-Skelly 7 - Went on a mazy run through midfield second half, wish he’d done more of that. Wish our actual midfielders would have done that


Zubimendi 5 - I have the same reaction to Zubimendi, as English people on holiday abroad when they encounter a bidet in their hotel bathroom. What is it, what does it do?


Merino 6 - Scarcely better, though did have a few chances in the box


Odegaard 6 - Sprayed some nice passes about first half, sprayed the back of his shorts in the second half


Martinelli 6.5 - Managed to profit off Bane hitting the bar to score but missed a sitter at the beginning


Gyokeres 6.5 - Unlucky not to be on the score sheet first half but looked increasingly isolated second


Trossard 5.5 - Skied a few efforts but largely useless



Subs


Timber 7 - Is there any doubt he’s the first choice right back now


Rice 6 - The hard work is there, the skill to play through a high press is not


Saka 7.5 - Seemed appropriate that he scored given he was the only substitute to make us look dangerous


Eze 5.5 - Two champions league games and he’s looked shit in both


Mosquera N/A - Did well given the state of the game, but wasn’t on long enough to give him a fair score



I was reminded the film Taken and the line “I lack a very particular set of skills” - namely the ability to play through a press. Although with some of the casual passing in the first half the actual line “Your arrogance offends me” would also be appropriate.

I want to memory hole this game, it brought me nothing approximating enjoyment. The only thing that stopped it being like the shit show against Shakhtar last season was the second goal.

Olympiakos actually impressed me, they seemed to have boundless energy to get under our skin more than a wife we’ve bitterly resented for years. It was mainly shit housing but there was the odd bit of skill, and actually as the game went on their passing was more purposeful than ours.

Best thing about this new group stage, we don’t have to play them again (well probably not, could be unlucky enough to get them in the knockouts). The ugly deed is done, time to think of more pleasant things (like assisted suicide) and move on

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You are one miserable bugger! :lol:

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Originally Posted by Chippy

You are one miserable bugger! :lol:

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I was miserable because we played shit last night, i don’t watch enough of other teams to know if it’s a growing trend across the sport. I think in a way it is, but we play shit more often than we don’t