CM: Matteo Guendouzi – 6.5/10
He was brought off at half time, which many deemed unfair. I don’t know what it is about Matteo Guendouzi, but whenever he’s off the pitch, Arsenal play ten times better, despite him looking impressive while on the pitch.
Despite his good form, I think Arsenal’s setup in midfield should see the Frenchman dropped to the bench. Arsenal look a lot more solid with a pivot of Xhaka and Torreira, while Ramsey brings the ball forward.
CM: Granit Xhaka – 7/10
What. A. Hit.
It seems like Xhaka only scores from long range, which the Gunners certainly won’t complain about. During his days in the Bundesliga, the Swiss born midfielder showed what he’s capable of when it comes to free kicks, but he’s never really been given the opportunity for Arsenal.
Unai Emery knows what he’s capable of though, and after that sumptuous free kick, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take them more often. He looks a lot better when partnered with Lucas Torreira, this is because the defensive onus is taken away from him and he can focus on dictating the play in the center.
CM: Aaron Ramsey – 6.5/10
Ramsey was a little off by his standards, but he was still good. That says a lot about him, I feel.
He looked to get forward whenever possible, which didn’t come as a surprise. He was positive in his outlook, but the reason he received a low rating in comparison is the number of times he lost possession. Hint: I wasn’t counting, but from the naked eye, it seemed like a lot.