Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool: Player Ratings

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech made a crucial save to deny Liverpool’s Christian Benteke in the first half

Arsenal are still waiting for their first win at home this season after Monday night’s clash with Liverpool turned into a goalless affair. In fact, the Gunners are still awaiting their first goal at home this season. Even for all the dominance, the Londoners failed to break down Liverpool, who incidentally had the better of the clear cut opportunities.

The result sees Liverpool sit in third place, tied on points with Leicester and their big rivals Manchester United. Arsenal meanwhile are getting back into things after their horror show of a start against West Ham, with four points from their opening three encounters.

It was not supposed to be a goalless draw, but someone forgot to tell Petr Cech and Simon Mignolet that. Monday night football became the night for the goalkeepers as both custodians stole the limelight. A clash that was meant to produce fireworks certainly did, but not of the kind many expected. The highlight reel for this one would contain the moment goals were denied, not ones where the crowd erupted to the bulging of the net.

But how did everyone fare? Here are the ratings for the game:

Arsenal

Petr Cech: 9/10

Start of the show. His two saves from Philippe Coutinho and Christian Benteke were what stood between Arsene Wenger and his first ever campaign where Arsenal have lost their first two home games. If he had left with his tail between his legs after his home debut against West Ham, he could certainly walk out of The Emirates with his head held high.

Hector Bellerin: 6.5/10

He caught the pass bug as well. Gave away possession cheaply but surprisingly looked more composed than the centre backs. Unlike in other games, wasn’t a real threat going forward than he normally is.

Gabriel Paulista: 7/10

The best amongst the rest we might say. He was probably the surest within the wobbly back four. His pace came in handy to thwart off many a dangerous situation, especially in the first half.

Callum Chambers: 5.5/10

Too casual with the ball at his feet in the first-half. His giving away of possession in dangerous areas in the first 45 minutes could well have cost Arsenal the game. Came to terms as the game went on.

Nacho Monreal: 7/10

Wasn’t as error prone as the others in the backline. His sumptuous cross early in the game should have been headed in by Alexis Sanchez.

Santi Cazorla: 6.5/10

Neat in possession. His superbly weighted pass for Aaron Ramsey’s disallowed goal is what embodies “the beautiful game”. Was caught out defensively on a few occasions in the first half that could have led to more trouble on another day.

Francis Coquelin: 7.5/10

Another robust performance from the Frenchman at the heart of the Arsenal midfield. His two recovery challenges on Philippe Coutinho and Christian Benteke just as they were about to pull the trigger caught the eye. Arsenal finally seems to have found the blue collar guy for their midfield that they have long been searching for.

Mesut Ozil: 6/10

Another night where the German again showed flashes of brilliance but nothing to really put his mark on the game. Arsenal need much more from the German in the coming days if they are to challenge for the title.

Aaron Ramsey had a goal disallowed when it was ruled offside

Aaron Ramsey: 6.5/10

The Welshman’s dynamic movement saw him pop up all over the pitch. Sorely out of luck to have been flagged offside for what seemed to be a clean goal in the first-half. Had a couple more decent efforts on goal as the match went on.

Alexis Sanchez: 6.5/10

He has certainly had better halves than the opening 45 minutes where he was largely erratic. Should have buried a header early on in the game as Monreal served up a sumptuous cross from the left. He also managed to hit the post in the second-half.

Olivier Giroud: 6/10

Had one golden opportunity, but scuffed his effort when it mattered the most, allowing Mignolet to palm his effort away. Starved of regular service throughout the game.

Olivier Giroud failed to make an impression in the game

Substitutes

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 7/10

Really brought an energy and vigour to Arsenal’s cause in the second-half. He is not knocking the door down for a starting place, but he is certainly knocking on it. One of his fierce crosses could have easily been put into his own goal by Martin Skrtel.

Theo Walcott: 6/10

Given 15 minutes to shine, but never saw enough of the ball to make a telling difference.

Simon Mignolet kept his third clean sheet in as many games

Liverpool

Simon Mignolet: 7/10

Did not have an awful lot to do except for a couple of smart saves. Arsenal never really tested the goalkeeper even with so much of the ball. The Belgian now holds the record for the highest number of clean sheets in the Premier League in the calendar year 2015.

Nathaniel Clyne: 7.5/10

His marauding runs on the flanks with Firmino shifting in time and again, provided Liverpool some much-needed width.

Martin Skrtel: 8/10

Liverpool’s leader at the back. He was not only there at the right place at the right time, but also was vocal, directing things around at the back. His interception and superb clearance of an Oxlade-Chamberlain cross averted what would have otherwise been a simple tap in for Theo Walcott.

Dejan Lovren: 7/10

Fared pretty well in his first ever game against Arsenal and kept a nice tab on Olivier Giroud. His performances have been a pleasant surprise for Liverpool fans after a disastrous first season.

Joe Gomez: 7/10

Showed maturity beyond his age and certainly showed us why he is getting a nod ahead of Alberto Moreno. Made a couple of erroneous decisions, but overall, showed great promise.

Emre Can: 6.5/10

Strong performance on his return to the side, as he gave a glimpse of the potential Liverpool see in him in the years to come. A good box to box display from the ex-Leverkusen man; but could have been more careful with the ball in possession.

Liverpool are yet to concede a goal in the EPL

James Milner: 6.5/10

Another solid performance from the Englishman as we have come to expect from him day in, day out. The Liverpool skipper for the night had nothing spectacular to offer but kept the tempo ticking for them at the middle of the park. His versatility around the pitch really gives Brendan Rodgers a lot of options to play with.

Lucas Leiva: 7/10

Read the game well and provide the back four with some strong cover for 75 minutes. The Brazillian certainly did answer the call when asked to, even though rumours of a move away from Anfield keep on hovering.

Philippe Coutinho: 8.5/10

A dazzling display to make us wonder why he is not in the Brazilian set-up. On another day and with another goalkeeper, the Brazilian would have been the star of the game, walking away with a well-deserved brace. But the stars had aligned to bring Cech and the Arsenal goal-frame between him and his deliverance of all three points to Liverpool.

Roberto Firmino: 7/10

Displayed hints of the talent for which Liverpool paid such a huge sum, linking up well with Benteke and Coutinho. However, he faded away in the second half and was replaced at the hour mark.

Christian Benteke: 7.5/10

Used his strength and speed to run Calum Chambers and Gabriel ragged, especially in the first half. A great cut back from the Belgian produced the first opportunity of the game, which Coutinho smacked against the crossbar. He should have tucked away the biggest opportunity of the game only for Cech to make the save.

Benteke had the best chance in the game, denied by Cech

Substitutes

Jordan Ibe: 5/10

Replaced Roberto Firmino, but had very little to offer for the last half and hour. Kept on losing possession and seemed a bit rusty.

Jordan Rossiter: 6.5/10

A surprise introduction to the game to replace Lucas Leiva, who looked knackered. But, the youngster held his own on his debut. Tidy on the ball and neat in his tracking back, he helped Liverpool to a well-deserved away point.

Alberto Moreno: N/A

Introduced very late on to replace Coutinho and shore up the left side of Liverpool as Oxlade-Chamberlain threatened to run rampage on that side.