By Matty Sadler
January 31 2021

I honestly feared for the worst when I saw there was  no Tierney, Saka or Aubameyang, but I couldnt fault the players on the pitch. Everyone put a shift in and gave their all. Felt quite a tense game at times. 0-0 fair in the end. Both sides had chances but failed to take them. Neither side deserved to lose. Would've fancied us had we had our full team.     

Leno - 7. Brilliant save off Fred and did well to quickly close Rashford in the first half.

Bellerin - 6. Okay defensively.
Holding - 6. Okay defensively.
Luiz - 7. Let Bruno come inside him fairly easily in the first half but otherwise thought he had a good game.
Cedric - 6. Defended well.

Partey - 6. He's a dominating presence but didn't think he was at his best on the ball today.
Xhaka - 7. Thought he played well. Defensively solid and sound on the ball.

Pepe - 7. Impressed me again. Much more influence on the game than we've perhaps been used to. Most notably at the start of the second half, he was allowed to drift more from his starting RW position. Would've scored had Maguire not blocked his shot.
Smith Rowe - 7. Particularly in the first half I thought he was very good. Linked everything up and pressed. Shot well saved in second half.
Martinelli - 6. Good work rate and defensive awareness, and put one dangerous ball into the ball, but didn't get much out of Wan-Bissaka. Maybe unlucky to get subbed off.

Lacazette - 7. Thought he led the line well. Good work rate and hit the bar with a free kick.
Subs:
Willian - 5. Didn't think for one moment he was going to score that chance. Put a shift in.
Odegaard - N/A. On late but good to see him.
Nketiah - N/A. On late.
Discussion Here