Well, I've had 12 hours to recover from that definition of an emotional rollercoaster. It is slightly difficult to do ratings because of the nature of the game, but here goes:
Martinez - 5: looked unconvincing, at fault for their 3rd and flapped at a lot of crosses. Did however improve 2nd half, like most of the team, and made a couple of good saves.
Miquel - 5: Looked a bit laboured and struggled at times down Reading's left, and was running on empty in ET. Not his natural position though.
Jenkinson - 6: Not his best game, he was caught out of position for the 1st goal qnd his crossing wasn't great, but he did score a crucial goal.
Djourou - 5: A poor game, has to be said, did improve 2nd half.
Koscielny - 4: A calamitous first half, at fault for 2 goals, but a crucial goal and two vital defensive interventions in ET bump it up from a 3.
Frimpong - 5.5: Plenty of energy and running but struggled to impose himself and was subbed early
Coquelin - 7: Poor first half, good second, and kept controlling the game through to ET. Real game of two halves, but he's a talented lad.
Arshavin - 4.5: Did his classic Arshavin thing of playing poorly and bagging a couple of assists. I'm not fooled, his passing was pior and shooting very wasteful. Time's up.
Gnabry - 6: again struggled to get in the game, but looked lively late in the 1st half and almost scored with a cross-shot. Sub bed early.
Walcott - 8.5: Was poor in the 1st hald but still scored a suberb goal, and was then brilliant later on, having a hand in 6 goals in all.
Unlucky not to get a hat-trick, he really was excellent. Maybe we sould play him CF and give him his contract?
Chamakh - 7: Hard one this, he was poor all game but then did two things in extra time which I could scarcely believe, and that was score 2 from outside the box, including an audacious lob. Really weird.
Subs:
Giroud - 8: the game changer, a really impressive performance. Scored one good cushioned-header, and forced two more good saves, buzzing aroung, using his strength, always a threat. Hopefully he's fresh for OT.
Eisfeld - 7: Really impressed, looked capable and composed, far more so than 80 caps Arshavin.
Meade - Too little time.
Player ratings
posted on 31/10/12
Sorry but even though some of these guys are young, they were first team players last night.
Martinez and Gnabry are both well over-rated by the OP, as is Frimpong, (in fairness I also over-rated his performance... though mine was done right after I got in last night).
Think Miquel deserves more credit than you've given him too, as does Arshavin - 4.5?! Stop listening to the commentators and form your own opinion.
Apart from that, I agree... though I'd knock Djourou back to 4 and give Meade 5 or 6.
posted on 31/10/12
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 31/10/12
Martinez and Gnabry are both well over-rated by the OP, as is Frimpong, (in fairness I also over-rated his performance... though mine was done right after I got in last night).
Agree Lex but would like to give Martinez a bit more credit. When you come in and have to play in an important game and you have such a shambolic defense in front of you it wasnt easy. I think he improved during the game.
posted on 31/10/12
Walcott - 8.5:
Unlucky not to get a hat-trick, he really was excellent. Maybe we sould play him CF and give him his contract?
------------------------------------------------
45' +2 T. Walcott,
90' +6 T. Walcott,
120' +1 T. Walcott.
That's what a Hat-trick looks like.
posted on 31/10/12
Not sure Martinez improved that much, gunnerthru.
It's true I wouldn't have wished last night's defence upon any young keeper, but he was shaky through-out and the only time I remember him confidently catching a cross, he promptly booted the ball up the pitch straight back to Reading.
It was 5:6 at the time, and could've cost us.
Made a good stop when that Reading bloke was offside though, (which is a shame for him I guess). Still one for some point in the future, but just shows how much we need an experienced keeper bringing in in for our immediate future.
posted on 31/10/12
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 31/10/12
Arshavin 4.5 ??
I'm sorry, but you are probably blind old man...
posted on 31/10/12
Lol
you gave Gnarby a 6 who was pathetic and Arshavin 4.5 ?
U mug take 1 Star from me.
posted on 31/10/12
Goalkeeper made a couple of mistakes but was left exposed by defence. Would not rank at moment above
fourth choice gk.
Miguel is a centre and not left back. His failing in the latter position exposes lack of options at club.
Djourou and Koscielny are simply not compatible as
central backs. Djourou lacks the heading ability or
physicality to play in English Football.
Frimpong and Coquelin are not good enough to play at first team level with Arsenal.
Arshavin and Chamakh need to be offloaded. Chamakh may have improved late in game, but his overall performance level whenever I have watched him is poor.
Gnabry. Jury is out. It is unrealistic to judge him on a
couple of performances when the rest of team is playing poorly.
Eisfeld looked a decent player at this level. However,
would he play as well against top team?
Walcott and Giroud are as I have said elsewhere only
two players who looked remotely like first team quality.
posted on 31/10/12
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator