Arsenal player rating: Gabriel Jesus Shines, but Martin Odegaard’s Performance Against Sevilla Raises Questions.
In a thrilling Champions League clash, Arsenal secured a pivotal 2-1 victory against Sevilla, with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus leading the charge.
The former netted the opener just before halftime, capitalizing on a swift counter-attack, while Jesus beautifully extended the Gunners’ lead eight minutes into the second half with a stunning effort that found the top corner of the net.
Despite a late Sevilla goal from Nemanja Gudelj, Arsenal held their ground to secure the win, showing resilience following their previous 2-1 loss to Lens in the Champions League.
Here’s an assessment of the Arsenal players’ performances, as observed by Kieran Davies:
1. David Raya (Rating: 6): Made minimal saves but had a few shaky moments playing out from the back.
2. Ben White (Rating: 6):Initially quiet but became more involved in the second half, offering support on the overlap and occasionally struggling against Ocampos.
3. Gabriel (Rating: 6): Had defensive lapses and often engaged with the referee, even when at fault.
4. William Saliba (Rating: 7): Maintained solidity in the heart of Arsenal’s defense, occasionally overcommitting in midfield but dependable in his own box.
5. Takehiro Tomiyasu (Rating: 7):Made an impact from the start, causing problems for Sevilla down the left flank and providing support for Martinelli and Jesus.
6. Jorginho (Rating: 7): Demonstrated the kind of composed performance Arsenal requires in European away games, focusing on simple, short passes to facilitate play.
7. Declan Rice (Rating: 7): Displayed a strong work rate and made an impressive box-to-box run in the second half, although the opportunity created was not converted.
8. Martin Odegaard (Rating: 5):Struggled to make an impact, offering very little for Arsenal and reminiscent of his Real Madrid performances.
9. Bukayo Saka (Rating: 6): Showed some predictability on the ball, often cutting onto his left foot and shooting, resulting in wasted possessions.
10. Gabriel Jesus (Rating: 9): Stood out as the difference-maker in the match, creating the first goal with a brilliant Cruyff turn and scoring a remarkable goal from nothing.
11. Gabriel Martinelli (Rating: 8):*Displayed composure by running from the halfway line to give Arsenal the lead and remained a threat down the left throughout the game.
Substitutes:
– Kai Havertz (Rating: 5):Largely invisible and left questions about his value to the team.
– Leandro Trossard (Rating: 6): Struggled to find his footing, often tasked with defensive duties as Sevilla gained confidence.
– Eddie Nketiah (Rating: 6): Had little opportunity to impact the game as Arsenal’s attacking momentum had dwindled.
Unused Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, Zinchenko, Cedric, Kiwior, Elneny, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson.
This victory proves significant for Arsenal, with Gabriel Jesus emerging as the standout performer and the Gunners bouncing back from their previous setback in the competition.
