Olivier Giroud got his first start in a while against Everton and proved why he’s still got it.
At the other end, Petr Cech made some amazing saves, once again, to ensure the scoreline stayed 2-1 and Arsenal grabbed top of the league.
The whole team appeared a little tired after our midweek win over Bayern Munich, but we ground out the win and kept our winning streak going.
Petr Cech – 8
Although he didn’t manage to keep a clean sheet, the goalkeeper made some sublime saves. The best of which came in the 86th minute.
Hector Bellerin – 7
The youngster was great going forward and used his pace and skill to release us down the flanks. He was a little sloppy with some of his passes but got forward and made a superb cross in the 58th minute, which Giroud narrowly missed.
Gabriel – 8
The centre-back stood in for Mertesacker and was brilliant again. The Brazilian made a particularly well time challenge on Barkley in the second half and was a vital part of us winning all three points.
Laurent Koscielny – 8
The defender was smart, controlled and professional as always. Plus he managed to score, which is always a bonus.
Nacho Monreal – 7.5
The full-back was solid as always and a strong presence at the back.
Francis Coquelin – 7
The midfielder was a little sloppy with his passing at times but other than that he gave a strong, confident, solid performance.
Santi Cazorla – 7.5
The Spaniard gave a masterclass in dribbling and drove us forward.
Mesut Ozil – 8
The playmaker had a great game. He’s looking more and more confident with his shooting and seems hungrier than ever to score. His assist for Giroud’s goal was stunning.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7
The youngster appears to still be having the same issues with overplaying and holding onto the ball too long.
Alexis Sanchez – 8
Another great game and although he didn’t score himself, he was one of the driving forces behind our attack time and time again.
Olivier Giroud – 8
The striker played as if he had a point to prove and boy did he prove it. Not only did he score but he was a constant threat. This, combined with his excellent hold-up play made him incredibly dangerous.