Arsenal vs Chelsea Player Ratings and Match Reaction

[HCZ_Reborn]

Agree with most of that. Re ESR I'm not sure that we can assess his current form because we have not seen him play for any length of time. Its seems odd that our second highest scorer for 2021/22 - in front of Odegard and Martinelli that season - has suddenly become a player without the potential to improve like they, and Saka have. He was also a good link player - that should have been able to work in Arteta's preferred system - unlike, say Nketiah. I think your 'poor man's JW' comment is harsh simply because he hasn't been given a chance this season. I can remember that he was almost solely responsible for the uptick in our lamentable form before December 2021.

Generally speaking I think some fans (I'm not directing this at you BTW!) seem to think that our players are average simply because they are not at the level of Citeh's best. Citeh are a freak show of a team who can hoover up the best talent in the world. Most of our players would not get into that team, but neither would those from the other teams in the league. Our players have been good enough to run Citeh close for the title. That is not average.

In regards to ESR, I’m not basing my comments based on this season…you’re right that would be unfair

I’m basing it on the fact that I never rated him to begin with

My response to his goal scoring exploits?, well Aaron Ramsey scored a load of goals in one season and I think he was rubbish and I was glad when he left.

ESR was getting goals but his overall contribution on the pitch was limited, he was a hard worker (at times) but he was usually the beneficiary of intricate play elsewhere rather than making it himself. For some bizarre reason Arteta in the second half of last season took to playing Smith Rowe and Odegaard together at times which I thought was nuts. Smith Rowe lacks the raw pace to play on the wing so invariably drifts into the middle

Now not saying ESR is rubbish, I just don’t think he’s that good either. You compared him to Joe Willock and I think that’s a fair comparison. I think when Newcastle invariably improve their squad in the summer Willock will struggle to get a look in and now that we’ve improved our squad the same is true for ESR.

Now what irks me is that we are in for another English midfielder in Mason Mount. Now Mason Mount I do think is utter rubbish. I actually would prefer we persisted with Xhaka than sign him and my feelings about Xhaka are clear.