Arsenal brushed off Huddersfield with a fairly solid but uninspiring display to keep up pace with Chelsea and Manchester United.
The North London club need to improve to ensure they’re still in the hunt at the end of the season. They surrendered too much space which could have cost them dearly but their hosts just couldn’t make the most of their chances or get past Leno.
Here are Arsenal player ratings:
Bernd Leno – 7 – Showing signs that he is the best Arsenal keeper since David Seaman.
A string of good saves, alert to danger but another instance when the defence threw away a chance of a clean sheet.
Shkodran Mustafi – 5 – Looks uncomfortable and unsure. Yet another twitchy performance that will book his exit from the Emirates in the summer.
Laurent Koscielny – 6 – Brave, prepared to put his body on the line and even took one in the Crown Jewels. Important clearance late on.
Nacho Monreal – 5.5 – Overrun on occasion and clearly not back to his best. Found it difficult to contain Diakhaby and Depoitre.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 7 – By far his best performance in an Arsenal shirt.
Looked assured and a constant threat going forward, excellent cross for Lacazette to convert.
Sead Kolasinac – 7 – A powerful force going forward, not so good in retreat. Provided a peach of a cross for Iwobi to open Arsenal’s account. Pity about the OG.
Lucas Torreira – 6.5 -Workman like performance, didn’t put a foot wrong but just never showed his full repertoire. He’ll have better days.
Matteo Guendouzi – 6.5 – Had a quiet first 45. Better second half. A few wayward passes and although not heavily involved, he was always looking for the ball.
Alex Iwobi – 7 – Despite the fans criticism, he keeps coming back and keeps getting forward. Gave Arsenal a cutting edge but his decision making was poor sometimes.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 8 – It was a welcome return for the midfielder who showed purpose and intent in the attack and was involved in both goals. Best performance for recent times.
Alexandre Lacazette – 7 – A tireless worker for the team and was always looking for opportunities and space. Took his goal well from a blistering Maitland-Niles cross.
SUBS:
Mohamed Elneny – 6 – Never made much of an impression. A squad player that offers little and it’s surprising he’s still at Arsenal.
Denis Suarez – 6 – Nice little touches and a dribble, looks as if he will soon be let off the leash but let’s see him over 90 minutes.
Joe Willock – 5 – Steady and measured but he needs more time on the field and more appearance to teach his full potential.
