Daily Archives: January 11, 2020

Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal: Player Ratings

Aubameyang’s sending off

Crystal Palace entertained Arsenal in the lunchtime fixture of Saturday and as expected, there was a drama for all fans involved. I will publish an in-depth review of the game tomorrow, but it was not surprised to see that the starting lineups of both teams matched what I published in the preview of the game.

Here are the Gooner Daily player ratings:

Starting XI

Bernd Leno: The German shot stopper had little to do all game long but did well to claim some cross and made himself available when required. Unfortunate to concede from that deflection off his teammate. (6)

Sokratis Papastathopoulos: Had a good game by this fair standards, making the necessary blocks, clearances and interceptions. Would not be happy to concede that goal after his display (6)

David Luiz: Was at the heart of everything good for the team, especially with building from the back with his inch-perfect distribution. It is ironic to know that his deflection cost his side all three points. (7)

Ainsley Maitland-Niles: His duel against Wilfried Zaha was publicized prior to the game and it is fair to say that he acquainted himself well with the threat the Ivorian posed on that flank. (7)

Sead Kolasinac: Marauded the left flank but did not offer much in the final third. (6)

Granit Xhaka: In the week he declared his loyalty to the club, Xhaka has gone from strength to strength putting up another committed performance in the middle of the park. (7)

Lucas Torreira: Covered every blade of glass on the side but got injured. His absense in the second half was sorely missed. (7)

Mesut Ozil: Involved in some good attacking plays for his side. Sacrificed to make up for Aubameyang’s dismissal. (6)

Nicolas Pepe: Had a poor game by his fair standards, making little or no impact from his favored position. (5)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Showed his class with a neat finish after some intricate passing play. Gutted to receive his marching orders for a mistimed challenge. (7)

Alexandre Lacazette: Continued working hard in attack but his lack of confidence in front of goal is a big cause for concern. (6)

Substitutes

Matteo Guendouzi: Brought onto the pitch to do Torreira’s work but failed miserably. (5)

Gabriel Martinelli: Tried to impose his influence on the game but was on the end of some intense fouling (6)

Reiss Nelson: Did not play enough to earn a rating. N/A

Follow Gooner Daily on Twitter @goonerdaily. I’ll follow back

Visit Gooner Daily’s Facebook page.

Click on the “Follow button” to join Gooner Daily’s Mailing List

Posted in Arsenal, Player Ratings, Premier League

1 Comment

Tags: Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Football, Premier League

Crystal Palace Preview: Team News, Injury Updates and Predicted Lineups

Jan 11

Posted by enigma106

Mustafi doing Mustafi things

Crystal Palace hosts Arsenal in today’s lunchtime fixture in what should be a pulsating encounter. Last season on this same patch of Earth known as Selhurst Park, the Gunners shared the spoils with their hosts, no thanks to two well taken penalties from the master dead ball specialist, Luka Milovojevic.

Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, spoke about the difficulties of playing on that ground,

“Every time I played there, I suffered. It was always tough. It is a very complicated stadium. Roy Hodgson is a manager with incredible experience and what he is doing there, it is impressive and it will be tough.

The manager is in the news for all the right reasons, getting results both on and off the pitch. There was a time this season where Granit Xhaka reached an all time low with the fans and was odds on to leave the club in January. Arteta had some discussions with him and convinced Xhaka to stay, which is a major plus for all concerned. Mesut Ozil also spoke highly of the new gaffer, stating he has brought the old virtues to the club.

With the renewed sense of optimism at the club, today’s game against Crystal Palace will represent how much more progress the club has made in the short stint Arteta has had with the Emirates.

Arsenal Team News

Calum Chambers (knee) and Kieran Tierney (shoulder) are currently the major absentees in the squad, although there were some concerns with club captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (illness) but he should be back in contention.

Hector Bellerin’s hamstring still remains a cause for concern and Arsenal is still short on options in that position. Ainsley Maitland-Niles holds the fort, and Arsenal attempted an experiment with Sokratis Papastathopoulos, but the Sun reported that the Gunners are in talks to sign Brazilian teenage sensation, Yan Couto this summer.

Lucas Torreira managed to get some rest in the FA Cup clash with Leeds, so he will be fresh for today’s encounter, because he will face some dogged opposition in the forms of James McCarthy, James McArthur and Cheikhou Kouyate.

Arsenal Predicted Lineup

Crystal Palace Team News

Roy Hodgson took to youth for his FA Cup encounter against Derby County and received some embarrassment from the Sky Bet Championship outfit. There was some insult added to injury when club captain, Milovojevic, received his matching orders in that game and will serve a three-match ban.

Crystal Palace secured the services of Cenk Tosun on loan from Everton, so he will be odds on to make his home debut. The Turkish forward lived his best life in Besiktas before switching to the Premier League and he struggled ever since.

Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup

Injury Updates

Arsenal: Kieran Tierney (shoulder), Hector Bellerin (hamstring), Calum Chambers (knee)

Crystal Palace: Patrick van Aanholt (hamstring), Joel Ward (knee), Scott Dann (muscle), Mamadou Sakho (hamstring), Jeffery Schlupp (muscle), Andros Townsend (knock), Christian Benteke (muscle), Luka Milovojevic (suspension)