Arsenal caught up in PSV Champions League mind games as Thomas Partey transfer update given
Jurrien Timber – Leaping high to give Arsenal the lead inside the first 20 minutes of the match, excellent desire and height on the jump before heading past Walter Benitez. 9
William Saliba – His talents were rarely called into action on the night as he managed the likes of Lang well, keeping his danger to a distance and distributing comfortably. There was a strong moment in the second half where he repelled the efforts of the PSV left. 7
Gabriel Magalhaes – Big block in the second half to deny former Tottenham forward Ivan Perisic a goal and missed the chance to score himself in the second period. 8
Myles Lewis-Skelly – Back into the team and back amongst the goal contributions with the perfect assist to his Hale End teammate Ethan Nwaneri. However, after wrongly receiving the first yellow, how the 18-year-old avoids yet another red card I will never know – he should not have made it to the half-time whistle and he didn’t but only because he was taken off by Arteta. 6
Thomas Partey – Another moment of carelessness from the Ghanaian who felt the need to bring Luuk de Jong down in the box, gifting the home side a penalty. 5
Declan Rice – A foot prevented Declan Rice’s outside-of-the-box strike from giving the Gunners the lead. He would, however, redeem that with a gorgeous cross on his left foot to Timber, the perfect height, weight and dip on the ball. An excellent overall display and now back to more of what Arsenal fans would be expecting. 8
Martin Odegaard – Denied the chance of a penalty kick in the first half after some good movement into the box, VAR checked and cleared, but it was up for debate. He scored his second with a powerful strike from outside the box before slipping in Calafiori to score the seventh Arsenal goal of the night. 9
Ethan Nwaneri – A massive goal for the 17-year-old on the biggest of stages, finishing beautifully with a first-time touch off his former youth teammate’s cross. He had other chances in the game and was a constant threat throughout. 8
Leandro Trossard – A great pass into Myles Lewis-Skelly for the second goal, threading the needle to the full-back, who set up Nwaneri. He would then turn scorer in the second half, a mesmeric backheel nutmeg to Calafiori before getting the ball back and chipping over Benitez. 8
Mikel Merino – While the goal was something of a gift, Mikel Merino certainly finished with the comfortableness of a seasoned centre-forward. Outside of the goal, he was not involved in too many other major moments. 6
Riccardo Calafiori – Replacing Myles Lewis-Skelly before the half-time whistle. His impact came early at the start of the second half, playing through Leandro Trossard to score the Gunners’ fifth of the night. He then ran through at the top of the field, like a striker, and slotted in like he’d been doing it for years. 8
Raheem Sterling – Came on, lost the ball twice and did little else. 4
Arsenal caught up in PSV Champions League mind games as Thomas Partey transfer update given
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