Arsenal player ratings vs Sporting CP: Kiwior mixed debut, Saliba and Vieira good
Matt Turner: He has improved his ability to play the ball from the defensive area, but he still doesn’t appear entirely confident. In the first half, his decision almost resulted in conceding a goal. He should have intervened during Sporting’s first goal, but it was likely just bad luck that he couldn’t prevent the second goal. 5.
Ben White: Whenever possible, he pushed forward, but Arsenal’s offensive right side was relatively uninvolved. However, he performed admirably in defense for the majority of the match.6.
William Saliba: He scored an impressive goal to give Arsenal the lead in the first half, and shortly before Sporting took the lead in the second half, he made an exceptional tackle that prevented a goal. Overall, he displayed maturity and composure, representing the first team well as a center-back. 7.
Jakub Kiwior: He could have performed better in preventing the first goal, as he didn’t even attempt to challenge Inacio. At times, his positioning was also inadequate. However, he did display some impressive passing skills during the match. 5.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: As anticipated, the Ukrainian player exhibited some excellent passing skills, although he could have scored a spectacular long-range shot. It was unwise of him to become embroiled in a brawl after Saliba’s goal, which led to him receiving a yellow card. 6.
Jorginho: There was a moment in the first half where he appeared to be running slowly when tracking back, as if moving through treacle. Other than that, he performed reasonably well and kept the ball moving effectively. 6.
Granit Xhaka: He is technically credited with an assist for the own goal and could have scored a goal himself during the match. He exhibited more effectiveness in attacking play than he has in previous matches, but his performance was not particularly remarkable or attention-grabbing. 6.
Fabio Vieira: He was making the most effort to create opportunities and played some excellent forward passes during the match. It was intriguing to see him utilized as a false nine after Nelson was substituted. 7.
Bukayo Saka: Due to Arsenal’s difficulty in controlling possession throughout the match, he was unable to truly immerse himself in the game. While he did demonstrate some skillful dribbling, his overall contribution was subdued. 6.
Gabriel Martinelli: He was denied what could have been one of the most outstanding goals of the match by an exceptional tackle from Jeremiah St. Juste. He had a couple of other opportunities where he could have performed better, but his presence up front posed a reasonable threat throughout the match. 7.
Reiss Nelson: Following his impressive performance on Saturday, Nelson’s contribution during this match was underwhelming. He failed to get on the ball frequently enough to make an impact, and his set piece delivery was particularly weak. 6.
SUBSTITUTES –
Takehiro Tomiyasu: He exhibited his versatility by entering the match as a substitute and performing capably as a left-back. He defended well and provided a reasonable level of attacking support. 6.
Thomas Partey: Came on too late to influence the match. n/a.
Gabriel: Came on too late to influence the match. n/a.
Emile Smith Rowe: Came on too late to influence the match. n/a.
Arsenal player ratings vs Sporting CP: Kiwior mixed debut, Saliba and Vieira good
