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Player Ratings With Pressure Off Arsenal Flourish Alexis MoM


By Matty Sadler
April 2 2016

In what has been an incredibly frustrating and disappointing season, full of equally frustrating and disappointing performances, this sort of performance just drives you mad, doesn't it? It really is true when they say we lack character and mental strength, and only play well when the pressure is off. For the best part of 90 minutes we showed passion, hunger, desire and urgency that has been missing for the majority of this season.

We dominated possession, moved well off the ball, created chances and showed lots of skill, flair, and above all else, quality. Bar a couple of moments, we generally dominated Watford for most of the game.

I believe this was all summed up in Alexis, who has flattered to deceive for most of this season, but was superb today. It is incredibly frustrating because this team had the quality to run away with the league this season and we have probably blown it. All we can do is keep winning and hope Tottenham and Leicester drop points.

The credit for both our recent resurgence must go to:

1) Alex Iwobi, who has shown the sort of maturity and mental and technical quality that Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain can only dream of.
2) Danny Welbeck, who is basically Walcott and Giroud rolled into one, fast and pacy, with added hunger and willingness to run and work.
3) Mohamed Elneny, who is basically Cazorla and Ramsey rolled into one, a quality passer with mobility and a fantastic engine.

Ratings:

Ospina - 6. One excellent save off Deeney in the second half, otherwise little to do really. The one time he was beaten Monreal cleared off the line.

Bellerin - 8. Massive slice of fortune when his effort deflected in but he thoroughly deserved that luck after an excellent performance. Linked up very well down the right.
Gabriel - 7. A couple of instances in the first half where he showed great pace to get across and snuff out danger. Second half okay.
Koscielny - 7. Didn't have a great deal to do but solid enough.
Monreal - 7. Okay first half, better second half. Great headed clearance off the line when Ospina was well beaten.

Coquelin - 7. Okay first half, better second half.

Elneny - 8. What an engine he has! Didn't stop running all game. Passed and linked up well. What a great signing he has been so far. (Metro claim that he had record number of passes for a player in the Premiership in this match)

Alexis - 9. Much more like the Alexis we know and love. Hard working, bags of skill, lots of good crosses and link up, and scored the opening goal.
Ozil - 7. Quiet first half but came into the game in the second half. Excellent ball for Campbell for Walcott's goal.
Iwobi - 9. Linked up well with everyone throughout. Great cross for Alexis's opener. Finished off a great team move to make it 2-0, and had a couple of other good efforts on goal, including a great left footed curler off the crossbar. Looks like he might be the real deal. Excellent stuff.

Welbeck - 7. Linked up well and didn't give Watford's defence a moment's rest, but alas it was to little reward as he didn't get a sniff in front of goal. Again he showed what pace, strength and willingness to run and work can do.

Subs:

Giroud - 5. Headed a corner over, that was about it.
Walcott - 5. Scored a tap in.
Campbell - 6. Good cameo. Linked up well and got a brilliant assist for Walcott.

Arsenal 4 Watford 0

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