By Matty Sadler
December 1 2016
Name a sh*te team and you'll get a sh*te performance.
Martinez - 6. Could do little about either of the goals, but did fine whenever called into action afterwards.
Jenkinson - 1. Dithered in possession, hesitates defensively, always looks nervous and must take most of the blame for the second goal. The one thing you can usually rely on the Corporal for are good crosses but he tossed those up as well tonight.
Gabriel - 4. Okay at times, but was out muscled by Long far too easily in the second half.
Holding - 5. Can't fault him really. Always looks classy in possession.
Gibbs - 5. Did little wrong but also did little right.
Coquelin - 4. Awful in the first half but looked better next to Xhaka. Seemed to have most of our shots, which just about sums up our evening.
Elneny - 1. Offered absolutely nothing. Far too slow. Poor marking on the first goal. Completely pointless.
Reine-Adelaide - 1. Night to forget Weak, very lazy defensively on both goals and held onto the ball too long. Back to the U23s you go.
Ramsey - 4. Little impact in the first half. Better in the second half as he tried to create, to little avail. Dive was embarrassing.
Iwobi - 6. The one bright light in the first half, and I thought he was excellent in the second half.
Lucas - 1. I sincerely hope we can put this one down to rust after a spell out injured, but that was bad. Really. Weak, slow, seems to lack fight and spirit, offered no focal point and gave the ball away too often under no pressure.
Subs:
Xhaka - 6. Thought he did well. We looked better when he came on, not that that is saying much.
Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5. Saw little of the ball initially, then unsuccessfully tried to drive and penetrate. Missed our best chance.
Maitland-Niles - 5. Immediate improvement on Jenkinson.
More discussion here