Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United player ratings: Xhaka profits from rare De Gea blunder

 

It was Arsenal who profited from Chelsea’s earlier slip up in the race for Champions League football as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s unbeaten streak in the Premier League came to an end. We run through the player ratings from today’s 2-0 win to the Gunners.

ARSENAL

Bernd Leno - 7.38: Made important stops from Lukaku in particular and, unlike his opposite number, didn’t put a foot wrong.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 7.65: A strong performance from the youngster, who had a competitive personal battle with Luke Shaw down the Arsenal right, making four tackles and five interceptions.

Sokratis - 7.24: Bounced back from the disappointment of midweek with a solid display and was unfortunate to be booked.

Laurent Koscielny - 6.87: Exposed at times by the pace and strength of United’s attack but played his part in an all important clean sheet.

Nacho Monreal - 6.94: Distribution from the back was found wanting at times, completing just 75 per cent of his passes, but aside from that did well enough in a back three.

Sead Kolasinac - 6.36: Started the game well with a dangerous ball into the box that just evaded Lacazette but was not strong defensively and booked late on.

Granit Xhaka - 8.19: Scored the decisive opener with a well hit swerving effort from range and covered ground superbly, while creating two chances and making two interceptions.

 

 

Aaron Ramsey - 7.31: Broke up play all game to ensure that United couldn’t sustain control, winning a match high of eight tackles.

Mesut Ozil - 6.71: Kept possession better than any teammate, with a 91 per cent pass accuracy - but without finding that telling pass for much of the game.

Alexandre Lacazette - 7.16: An improved performance from last weekend despite not finding his shooting boots once again, missing the target with all five of his shots. Registered the assist for Xhaka’s goal before winning the penalty.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 7.03: Didn’t pose much threat for the majority of the game but put last week’s penalty miss behind him with a confident spot kick.

Subs: Alex Iwobi (6.24), Denis Suarez (6.17), Eddie Nketiah (6.18).

MANCHESTER UNITED

David de Gea - 4.70: After a remarkable performance in this fixture last season this was a game to forget for the Spaniard, beaten by the swerve of Xhaka’s drive but took a bigger step to his left than he needed to.

Ashley Young - 6.71: A solid if unspectacular display, but did chip in with four interceptions and two tackles.

Victor Lindelof - 6.49: Looked like the nervous wreck of a defender we saw early in his United career rather than the composed player he has been for much of the season.

Chris Smalling - 6.48: Like his defensive partner, some way off the levels he has managed to reach in recent weeks.

Luke Shaw - 7.22: The visitors best defender by a distance, making five dribbles, as well as offering an outlet going forwards, with two dribbles and three key passes.

Fred - 6.74: The Brazilian played well enough for much of the game, hitting the woodwork with a decent effort in the first half, but committed a costly foul in the box, even if it was soft.

Nemanja Matic - 6.47: Made five tackles but in general looked short of full fitness and was booked before being substituted.

Paul Pogba - 6.37: Looked a little lost on the left of a tight midfield four in the first half and a lot of what he attempted failed to come off.

Diego Dalot - 6.35: Started brightly with some decent deliveries into the box but offered little after the break before being replaced.

Marcus Rashford - 6.56: Poor final product in terms of finishing today but did play two cute passes into Lukaku that the Belgian should really have turned into assists.

Romelu Lukaku - 6.95: Missed a number of chances to first of all give United the lead and then bring them back into the game but did lead the line well enough and look the biggest threat for the visitors.

Subs: Anthony Martial (6.27), Mason Greenwood (6.02).

Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United player ratings: Xhaka profits from rare De Gea blunder