Opinion
Arsenal 5-1 Everton: PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal players celebrate after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) scores his side's fourth goal of the game during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Arsenal beat Everton 5-1 at the Emirates on Saturday evening as new record £56 million signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored on his Gunners debut and Henrik Mikhitaryan started his first match in North London. Read on for Layth Yousif’s player ratings as Aaron Ramsey starred with a hat-trick.
Petr Cech: 6 – Quiet game, more to do with Everton being poor than any defensive excellence from his backline, Denied a clean sheet by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header before being replaced by David Opsina
Hector Bellerin: 6.5 – Vibrant early on as he supplemented attacks but didn’t need to exert himself unduly with the North London derby looking in this comfortable rout.
Shkodran Mustafi: 6.5 – An assist for defensive colleague Koscielny after flicking on a corner to his French team-mate to nod home with the freedom of the box
Laurent Koscieleny: 7 – Doubled Arsenal’s lead after a free header in the box in the opening quarter. Assured throughout as Arsenal dominated but the real test will come next week at Wembley in the North London derby. For now the Gunners captain can enjoy his side’s attacking delights.
Nacho Monreal: 6.5 – Supplemented his side’s attacks in the opening half but was not tested defensively. Subbed at half time for Sead Kolasinac. With the North London derby fast approaching one hopes this Gunners stalwart will be fit again for a far more serious defensive test next week.
Granit Xhaka: 6.5 – Solid and efficient in the middle but you do wonder what his long term role will be as he is not a box to box type, nor creative enough to play further forward. Or for that matter defensively disciplined enough to patrol the crucial area in front of his back four. Not that it mattered against a compliant Everton
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Aaron Ramsey: 8 – A dream start for the Welshman with a brace of goals in the opening 20 minutes to banish the 3-1 loss to Swansea City for the former Cardiff City midfielder. Thoroughly deserved his ovation after grabbing his hat-trick as he was replaced by Jack Wilshere late on.
Alex Iwobi: 6.5 – Worked hard and never stopped running. Showed an improvement on previous games. Amazing what competition for places can do.
Henrik Mkhitaryan: 8 – Not a bad opening few minutes for the 29-year-old Armenian in his first Emirates start as he squared the ball for Ramsey to slot home the opener on six minutes. A good addition to the side even if he doesn’t look the type of player who will grab games by sheer force of character. Then again against a poor Everton side he didn’t need to. Mind you with three assists he certainly made his mark.
Mesut Ozil: 7.5 – A Rolls Royce. Who will be starring as a creative force for at least the next three-and-a-half years. Worth every penny of his £350k wage packet if he keeps working as hard as he did before signing,
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 8 – Showed a cool head to lift the ball over Toffees keeper Jordan Pickford to make it 4-0 just before half time to the joy of everyone assembled at the Emirates. Showed good movement and awareness throughout the game as Arsenal’s record £56m signing made himself at home with a dream debut.