Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid Player Rating and Match Reaction

[HCZ_Reborn]

No need to wait to do this


Raya 7.5 - Certainly wasn’t called to action as much as his counterpart but was big when he needed to be and made a couple of smart saves


Timber 8 - Ill be honest I thought that follow through from Mbappe in the first half was a bit spiteful, he marshalled Vini jnr well


Saliba 7.5 - Would give him higher but a few uncharacteristic brain farts in the first half, but he was one of a back four giving nothing away


Kiwior 8.5 - I’m giving him half a point more because he was a big worry factor but he was so calm, dispossessed Mbappe at one point.


Lewis-Skelly 8 - Played almost as a third central midfielder at times, without abandoning his defensive duties…added a bit of energy going forward


Partey 8 - Protected the back four well, that dickhead Camavinga stayed down long enough to make sure he got booked



Rice 9.5 - And that’s only because I never give a 10. But my problem with him is going to be deciding which of his free kicks were better, the curler or the thunderous strike. It wasn’t just the free kicks, it was everything he did on the pitch.


Odegaard 7.5 - Decent link up play with Saka


Saka 8.5 - Gave Alaba a tough night, and that’s despite not being fully fit


Martinelli 8 - They actually doubled up on him, that’s how much trouble he was causing


Merino 9 - What a lovely finish, and was massively unlucky not to score at least once before that. Actually played in front of goal second half as if he’d been a striker his whole career.



Subs


Trossard 7 - Fresh legs, kept us in control of things m


Tierney 7 - Did what he needed to do


White 7 - Blended into the back four and made sure Real Madrid didn’t get back into the tie



I’m almost frightened to say it, but we couldn’t could we?


This was the most consummate big match performance. We got the opener and then we smelt blood. I did wonder if it wouldn’t be our night when Courtois repelled our barrage on goal, but no fear. The london club produced the london bus effect, no goal from a direct free kick in years…two on the night.

That result did not flatter us

I repeat

That result did not flatter us. We deserved not only to win but to win by three clear goals. Mbappe was a bit of a menace in the first half but we kept him and Vini Jnr completely quiet in the second half.

A performance of control but also devestating ruthlessness

I envy all the fans who went to the Emirates tonight

[Marc Overmars]

The Emirates Stadium’s finest hour. Better than Barca 2011.

The first half was like how I expected it to go but that second half was incredible and beyond what anyone felt was possible. Declan Rice, take a fucking bow. Merino’s finish was also exceptional and it’s quite hilarious how he’s managed to deliver up front. Everyone put in such a shift, Arteta should be damn proud of that nights work.

At 3-0 I don’t think the tie is done simply because we probably have the hardest fixture in world football to navigate with Real Madrid away in the CL. Maybe it’s the pessimist in me but I still believe we have to be at our very best next week to ensure we progress.

Incredible night though, the kind of shit you live for as a football fan.

[HCZ_Reborn]

The Emirates Stadium’s finest hour. Better than Barca 2011.

The first half was like how I expected it to go but that second half was incredible and beyond what anyone felt was possible. Declan Rice, take a fucking bow. Merino’s finish was also exceptional and it’s quite hilarious how he’s managed to deliver up front. Everyone put in such a shift, Arteta should be damn proud of that nights work.

At 3-0 I don’t think the tie is done simply because we probably have the hardest fixture in world football to navigate with Real Madrid away in the CL. Maybe it’s the pessimist in me but I still believe we have to be at our very best next week to ensure we progress.

Incredible night though, the kind of shit you live for as a football fan.

We absolutely shouldn’t treat the tie like it’s done with, but we haven’t conceded more than two goals in over 15 months and Madrid have never overturned a three goal first leg deficit

And yeah I think this tops Barca.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

One thing I've really disliked about Artetaball for so long is the way it seems to have sapped individuality and ingenuity in a bunch of gifted players. 90% of the time, we win because the system prevails and we score goals that you can predict if you watch our games regularly.

Funnily, the system actually did quite well and if not that Courtois is a big game player, we'd had been 2 or 3 goals ahead even before Rice's freekick. But we weren't, and it felt like the usual thing was going to play out

I can't understate, that the fact the players took it upon themselves to reach deep and produce the kind of goals we are no longer use to, made this performance very special indeed.

Real Madrid, our opposition, has dominated and been the most successful side in Europe for ages without relying on any particular system unlike their eternal rivals Barca, who have achieved less with the system centric approach. No matter what odds they've faced (red cards, goal deficits, injuries, tactics) they've consistently had various players stepping up with unbelievable performances in these crunch games to save the day.

This performance brings hope, as it seems we might be getting there soon.

Bravo.

[Ollie the Optimist]

I’d give Lewis Skelly a 15/10.

To produce that kind of performance at only 18 against one of the world’s best forward line. Outstanding.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Wow, just WOW!!!!

Awesome from everyone, so proud of them all

[Letters]

We absolutely shouldn’t treat the tie like it’s done with, but we haven’t conceded more than two goals in over 15 months and Madrid have never overturned a three goal first leg deficit

And yeah I think this tops Barca.

When Rice came back out for an interview pitchside he said that Arteta was telling them it’s not job done. Pleased by that, it’s absolutely the right attitude.

Still can’t quite believe last night. It’s the biggest “pinch me” moment since that England 5-1 in Munich. And yes it definitely tops the Barca result which, fun fact, was in the same week I met MrsL and got offered the job I now have.

[HCZ_Reborn]

When Rice came back out for an interview pitchside he said that Arteta was telling them it’s not job done. Pleased by that, it’s absolutely the right attitude.

Still can’t quite believe last night. It’s the biggest “pinch me” moment since that England 5-1 in Munich. And yes it definitely tops the Barca result which, fun fact, was in the same week I met MrsL and got offered the job I now have.

Yep been a couple of bloody hell moments

Inter 5-1 at the San Siro still stands out, was in my second year of Uni watching that in halls with a load of other Arsenal supporters

Beating Real at the Bernabéu of course


Ironically, I think I was in Scotland for the 5-1 England game…though BBC Scotland did show the game live

[Marc Overmars]

I think we need to give Partey a contract extension. Knowing our luck he’ll sign and then have a year plagued by injury again, but when he’s fit and playing consistently there aren’t many better than him in that role. Let Jorginho go and replace him with Zubimendi by all means, but we are going to be struggle to find a replacement for Partey as well.

[IBK]

Appreciate the player ratings, but I think this is a team performance and result that simply requires massive flowers to all of our players on the pitch.

This was Arteta's Stage 5. A team and a system performing at the very top level. It stuck me how what we have often seen as ponderous attacking build up in other games suddenly looked calculated to entice RM out and create openings. How pressing high up the pitch suddenly seemed so effective, and again a calculated risk that (but for one or two moments - this was RM after all) did not simply make us look vulnerable to the counter.

Is this possible every time we step on the pitch? No - and we do need to find a way past EPL low blocks, and not just come alive when teams play more openly. But last night (and also the comments that have been made by opposition managers and players in recent weeks about how hard we are to play against) convinces me that there has been further progress, and that we can push on from a season where circumstances rather than the manager's methods have denied us the league.

Oh, and it's also worthwhile giving Arteta his props for the preparation for this game. Last weekend showed a departure from Arteta simply playing his first choice 11 in every game and his player management worked very well when it came to this tie. If this lesson has also been learned, then there is even more reason for optimism going forwards.