Arsenal certified for the final 16 of the Champions League after romping to a 6-0 victory over French facet RC Lens on Wednesday night time.
It was a outstanding attacking show from Mikel Arteta‘s males who sealed prime spot within the group, that means they might nicely have the possibility to relaxation gamers within the last sport week.
Kai Havertz discovered the online for a consecutive sport operating, earlier than strikes from Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Jorginho sealed a surprising victory on the Emirates Stadium.
Nevertheless, who deserves the very best and who deserves the bottom rankings from the sport? Take a look at our ideas beneath…
David Raya – 6
One of many quietest nights a goalkeeper may have. The Brentford loanee hasn’t had rather a lot to since signing in the summertime however was cool and composed every time he was required on Wednesday night. A trademark of his efficiency was claiming quite a lot of crosses into the world.
Takehiro Tomiyasu – 8
A wonderful efficiency from a participant who appears to be rising in energy as an Arsenal participant. Wherever you set Tomiyasu he appears to ship and that was no completely different in opposition to Lens. The Japanese defender claimed two assists for his troubles, one a outstanding swap of the play to pick Gabriel Martinelli within the left channel and the opposite a beautiful dink crossed that Martin Odegaard completed off.
William Saliba – 7
Handled the damaging Elye Wahi confidently. A really quiet night time for Arsenal’s defence that was marshalled excellently by the French centre half.
Gabriel – 7
Like Saliba, the Brazilian had little or no to do however he invited the press brilliantly for Arsenal’s midfielders, notably Declan Rice, the area to collect the ball centrally and drive ahead.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 6
A 6/10 score could seem a tad harsh for the Ukrainian however in fact, the left-back actually didn’t have an excessive amount of to supply from a defensive or offensive standpoint attributable to how the sport performed out on the Emirates.
Declan Rice – 7
One other wonderful show from the £100m summer time signing in the course of the park. Just like the defence, Rice didn’t have an enormous quantity to do however confirmed a willingness to drive ahead together with his immense energy when the area opened up.
Kai Havertz – 9
The German’s finest efficiency in an Arsenal shirt but. He has lastly arrived in north London – about time. The summer time arrival scored a late winner over Brentford on Saturday night which appears to have given the attacking midfielder a brand new lease of life. He opened the scoring in opposition to Lens on Wednesday, performed a significant half in Bukayo Saka’s aim and was then unlucky to not declare an help within the second half after delightfully pirouetting previous his marker on the byline.
Martin Odegaard – 7
The Norwegian wasn’t at his finest in midweek. In fact, he’s not hit the identical degree as final season for the overwhelming majority of the marketing campaign or date. That stated, this was a well timed return to kind. A beautiful volley simply earlier than the break put Arsenal 5-0 up.
Bukayo Saka – 8
Saka has grow to be accustomed to being on the top of some tough play and that was no completely different on Wednesday. Nevertheless, as he so sometimes does, the winger brushed that off to assist himself to a aim and an help for Gabriel Jesus’ aim. One other stylish outing in crimson and white.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7
The Brazilian has discovered targets harder to come back by in 2023/24 however he was arguably again to his finest in Europe this week. He took his aim superbly nicely, daring inside from the left earlier than curling the ball previous Brice Samba to make it 4-0.
Gabriel Jesus – 9
There aren’t many higher strikers in Europe’s premier competitors than Jesus who was phenomenal on Wednesday night. He made it 2-0 with a cracking end, promoting two defenders with a dummy earlier than slide-footing the ball into the far nook clinically.
Ben White – 6
Got here on at half time and made a number of good runs ahead however in the end didn’t have an excessive amount of say on proceedings.
Jakub Kiwior – 6
Got here on at left-back for the second half and seemed snug out of place. Didn’t have rather a lot to do however it’s going to please Arteta that he now has an alternative choice in that space of the pitch.
Reiss Nelson – 5
Launched with simply over 20 minutes remaining however barely had a kick. It would really feel like a wasted alternative for the Englishman to stake a declare nevertheless it’s all the time robust when a sport is already wrapped up.
Jorginho – 6
Got here on for Rice with quarter-hour remaining and scored a late penalty to make it 6-0. Apart from that, the Italian didn’t have too many touches.
Eddie Nketiah – N/A
Got here on too late to make any kind of affect, changing Gabriel Jesus with eight minutes to go.