Leeds 0-0 Arsenal: PLAYER RATINGS

Arsenal somehow left Elland Road with a point as they laboured in a 0-0 draw with Leeds on Sunday. Read on for Dan Mountney's player ratings.

22 November, 2020 6:32

Dan Mountney 6 comments

Nicolas Pepe let his side down. CREDIT: OFFSIDE

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Bernd Leno - 8.5 - Made a string of superb saves in a performance reminiscent of those he put in last season where his heroics earned Arsenal undeserved points.

Hector Bellerin - 6 - Defended well enough and posed a threat on the limited occasions he got forward. He would have got a 7 had it not been for those ridiculous foul throws.

Rob Holding - 7 - Held firm under the persistent Leeds pressure in a decent display.

Gabriel - 7 - Solid and assured as he continues the bright start to his Arsenal career.

Kieran Tierney - 7 - Did his defensive work well and battled throughout as he endeavoured to stop the constant Leeds pressure. Had little to chance to get forward as the hosts pinned Arsenal back.

Granit Xhaka - 4 - Failed to get control of the game and didn't get Arsenal moving from deep. He needs to do much better.

Dani Ceballos - 6 - Battled well in midfield in the first half but faded as the game went on and offered little creatively.

Joe Willock - 3 - Failed to take his chance on his first Premier League start of the season and look frustrated when he was taken off. As a player fighting for a place, Willock cannot afford performances like that when afforded the chance.

Nicolas Pepe - 0 - Made the incomprehensible decision to headbutt Alioski and get himself sent off early in the second half, leaving his team in the lurch. I've only ever given a zero in my player ratings once before, and Pepe deserves to be the second member of that not-so-illustrious club. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Willian - 2 - Yet another anonymous display by the Brazilian who offered little to nothing going forward in a lethargic display. I imagine travelling to Dubai for that 'important' business during the international break has something to do with it.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 3 - Given the chance to play down the middle but again lacked the service he required. Only when Saka came on did any Arsenal player get near enough to support him.

Substitutes

Reiss Nelson - 3 - Offered little after coming on and his deliveries were quite frankly appalling.

Bukayo Saka - 8 - By far an away Arsenal's best outfield player. Added drive and urgency going forward and looked like the only player capable of making something happen. But, the injury he picked up late on is a major concern.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - N/A

The woodwork - 10 - Saved Arsenal time and time again in a superb display.

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6
comments

Wengerballs
Nov 26, 2020, 16:31 #117192

Who cares about player ratings. Wheres the proper post match reviews? Bring back Kevin Whitcher.
Bardo
Nov 25, 2020, 14:40 #117191

The match was an accurate reflection of where we are at. Its pointless going on about Arteta because he is the best we can afford. He has never been a manager and is learning on the job. Remember that Brendan Rogers turned us down. We are suffering from poor player recruitment at the moment ( who sanctioned buying Willian) and until we can shift all the deadwood we will remain mired in mid table. As for this site there isnt any substance or any thoughtful articles so there isnt anything to debate, which is a shame there used to be some really funny and insightful stuff. Im amazed anyone bothers with it these days. Its a shame because over on Le Grove they are all newbies who sound like they started supporting Arsenal 5 minutes ago and Untold, despite the occasional interesting article, just bangs on about the 'media conspiracy". Presumably they are also up in arms because they think the US election was fixed.
CORNISH GOONER
Nov 24, 2020, 20:32 #117190

Hi KP - yep, the the post match thoughts & rants that not so long ago were prolific have all but disappeared - why? Coronavirus, general old age, apathy? Agree NP body language is laid back in the extreme ( or you could say he looks very pissed off) but, imo, he is the only one in the team who's can offer goal bound rockets ( including his right foot!) & with minimal back lift - that makes him special in my view & if I were Mikel I would do everything I could to give him a couple of opportunities per game to do his thing. Unlike Mr Ozil that talent is luxury we could & should afford. Alas, having largely sorted the defence, I don't think MA has thought about the other half of the game.
Kroenkephobe
Nov 24, 2020, 17:20 #117189

Hi Cornish, They're a difficult club to like and enjoy these days aren't they? The 2 week hiatus brought me one footballing pleasure which was seeing Scotland (and the irrepressible Mr Tierney) qualify for the euros in the tensest way imaginable. All the pre season optimism has gone up in smoke and we're experiencing another winter of discontent. I don't fully agree about NP. We all still want him to succeed but he just doesn't look bothered enough, often enough. That Leeds player is a serial gobshite, a la Haji Diouf so he should have been wise to him. I used to enjoy the badinage among Arsenalogists that stemmed from Kevin's match reports but they've sadly been replaced by these ratings which are dreadfully thin. By the way, I'd give gorgeous, pouting Hector 5 points fewer than you Dan because he can't take throw ins (which should surely be one of the manager's "non-negotiables" ) . I'll also give 1 out of 10 to the Gooner these days as well for the lack of stimulating post match discussion.
CORNISH GOONER
Nov 23, 2020, 19:23 #117188

I took a 2 week sabbatical from ANYTHING to do with Arsenal to turn myself from a grumpy old git back to the lovely, cheery chappy I used to be. Why did I bother! But I must be the odd one out & defend Pepe - the Leeds bloke was doing everything to invite a response just minutes/seconds before the incident, ignored by VAR of course, & boy, didn't he overreact to what was nothing like a decent head butt imo. Of course he should not have reacted but I think he is completely disillusioned with what has bought into. It's a zero risk strategy from Mikel so any movement upfront is completely wasted & an opportunity for a quick break turns into an inevitable back pass. I think in an attacking side he could be a sensation but I suspect he will be given the Ozil cold shoulder after this. And he is far more worthy than our Turkish mercenary.
RobG
Nov 22, 2020, 21:31 #117187

Goodness me - it was grim - again. What is it now ? No goals from open play in eight hours ? This is clearly no different from Emery - who sits second in La Leiga ! - albeit with some changes in personnel. I wish he would bring Smith Rowe in, I really do. We look so much less than the sum of our component parts. And we're a mile away from top six let alone top four.