Arsenal got the three points they needed with an injury-ravaged side taking to the field against Huddersfield Town, but it wasn’t a performance that will live long in the memory.
Arsenal took an early lead thanks to a deflected Alex Iwobi strike, and Alexandre Lacazette doubled their advantage before half-time with a goal from close range. After that, the team had a few good opportunities to extend the lead, and their wastefulness was almost punished as a Sead Kolasinac own goal cut the deficit in injury time.
Fortunately, it was too late for Huddersfield to grab an equaliser, and Arsenal took home the three points.
Let’s have a look at our individual player ratings for the match.
4Substitutes
Mohamed Elneny 6.5
Elneny was a slight improvement on Torreira, making a couple of tackles and completing a few long balls. Other than that it was a fairly standard performance from the Egyptian. Not really enough there to earn him starts, but showing he can still fill in when the starters need a rest.
Denis Suarez 7
This was a much better cameo than the one where the team had already given up against Manchester City. The Spaniard didn’t have too much of a chance to express himself in the final 15 minutes against Huddersfield, but he also didn’t put a foot wrong.
The Barcelona loanee won the only duel he contested, completed the only dribble he attempted, made one interception and found his target with all of his passes. Promising signs ahead of a surely imminent first start, perhaps in Belarus on Thursday.
Joe Willock N/A
Willock only got on for the final couple of minutes and made one interception. There wasn’t enough there to rate his performance, but it was still great to see the 19-year-old getting his first Premier League minutes under Unai Emery.