Arsenal Player Ratings as Kai Havertz shines during Champions League win over Kairat

Here's View From The Armchair with his verdict after Arsenal beat Kairat Almaty




Arsenal Player Ratings as Kai Havertz shines during Champions League win over Kairat 

Gunners sealed top spot in Champions League 36-team group after goals from Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabi Martinelli

Here's View From The Armchair with his verdict after Arsenal beat Kairat Almaty 

Kepa Just Kepa: 7/10 - Six minutes in the clean sheet is gone. He dives the wrong way and its 1-1 after Calafiori’s cynical tug on the shirt justice is done there it seems to me. Apart from that the Arsenal stand-in keeper was largely untroubled, and that suits me fine.

Myles Lewis Skelly: 8/10 - looked on it, focused and lively, as likely as anyone to open up behind the lines, another night of Champions League experience under the lights. For a 5ft 8in teeanger he battled well against taller opponents. Very happy to see him getting a run out.

Riccardo Calafiori: 6/10 - couldn't resist the tug on Jorginho's shirt (no, not that one) to give away a penalty, that the 28-year-old Portuguese-born forward slotted home after dusting himself down to make it 1-1. Our Italian left-back also receives he a yellow card for his troubles and is pulled off at half time to spare him getting a red it seems to me. Although it could also be to save him for Saturday's crunch clash at Leeds when making way for Piere Hincapie at the interval.

Cristhian Mosquera: 7/10 - on his A game tonight, albeit against opposition that won’t give him any nightmares on their best day - but you can only beat who is put in front of you. We move onto the next one, with limbs rested.

Ben White: 7/10 - captain for the night, nabbbed an assist, while looking solid and commanding at the back. I’ve been impressed with BW4 with his cameos this season, vital cog in this team as we search for glory on four fronts.

Christian Norgaard: 8/10 - had a decent game marshalling in front of the back four, another vital cog in this squad for a game like this, while super half price Declan Rice enjoyed a well deserved rest, after cannily picking up a late yellow last week in the San Siro to pick up a one match ban, and go golfing on his day off. Our Dane left the field to warm applause late in the game.

Ebere Eze: 8.5/10 - probing, quick rapid distribution with the ball, much improved performance for our mercurial maverick tonight, happy to see him on the pitch alongside the skipper as well, gonna give him my POTM tonight and a bonus point for daring to compare him to be a modern day Charlie Nicholas, after Sundays disastrous result.

Gabriel Martinelli: 7/10 - Netted his sixth goal in this season's Champions League to make it 3-1, springing the offside trap, as somehow Gyokeres is credited with the assist, that I am going to give to Havertz, who did the lions share with the lay up. Made way for Bailey Joseph as another youngster makes their debut, love to see it.

Viktor Gyokeres: 7/10 - one minute in with a first touch Gus Ceasar would have been chuffed with, it somehow bobbles back into his path and he smashes home from the edge of the box, great start, it’s 1-0, could and should have had a hat trick tonight. Job done overall as he is subbed off for Jesus with 13 minutes remaining.

Kai Havertz: 8.5/10 - one minute in he feeds the Gyok, with the vision he has been craving all season, lovely assist. 15 minutes he glides and cuts inside to make it 2-1 with a fierce shot. A fantastic return to first team action tonight, rested and saved for bigger games to come, but a job well done tonight. Would have got POTM if he had of remained on for longer.

Noni Mandueke: 8/10 - looked hungry and keen to impress on the right wing tonight, did his fair share of chasing back as well, gets bums off seats when he goes one on one, his footwork was dazzling tonight, job well done against the Champions League minnows.

Substitutes:

Martin Odegaard: 7/10 - looked impressive when he came on, cannot underestimate how important it is for you lot in the ground to really get behind him for the remainder of the season, stay with him, we will reap the rewards down the line.

Piero Hincapie: 7/10 - back to winning ways tonight, just what we needed after Sundays disaster against that horrible lot.

Gabriel Jesus: 7/10 - didn’t get a chance to add to his heroics in the San Siro last week, despite having one chalked off for offside, but he won’t mind that as we ease our way into the knockout phase with took to spare top of the pile, maximum points, incredible scenes Jeff.

Bailey Joseph: 7/10 - been with the Arsenal since the age of six, makes it a night to remember as he makes his debut with 13 minutes left.

Ife Ibrahim: 7/10 - Another debut for a Hale End youngsgter who gets on the pitch just in time to see Kairat pull it back too 3-2, thankfully there’s no rewrite needing to be written unlike Sunday as it finishes 3-2 straight after, phew, a good nights work all in all.

Now for Leeds. COYG!


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