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Arsenal player ratings as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil flop at Rennes


Arsenal slipped a 3-1 defeat at Rennes as a first half red card for Sokratis Papastathopoulos led to a collapse that threatens their hopes in the Europa League.

Alex Iwobi gave the Gunners the lead when his low effort found the net off the inside of the post after just three minutes, only for Sokratis to pick up his second booking of the half just four minutes before the break.

Benjamin Bourigeaud blasted home the subsequent free-kick at the second attempt for the equaliser, and the hosts took over in the second half.

Nacho Monreal put through his own het to make it 2-1 to the hosts, with Ismaila Sarr adding a third late on.

Here are the ratings for the Gunners players.

Petr Cech – 7


Used to play for Rennes many moons ago, y’know? Probably back when the Europa League was called the Intertoto Fairs Cup or something, and the only hats on show were flat caps and not his scrum-half effort.

The home fans unveiled a nice banner for him, which he might as well have been looking at when Bourigeaud hit that shot, Monreal’s own goal went in and Sarr smacked in the third, because he wouldn’t have got close to any even if he wasn’t 100.

Other than that he was good though.

Shkodran Mustafi – 5

Managed to cross the ball into his own groin at one point, and then got to limp around like a wounded soldier for the rest of the half.

He just… should be better.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos – 5


You can’t look at him without admiring his passion and commitment – Arsenal really should have signed him or someone like him 10 years ago – but it’s clear he can be exploited.

A bit unlucky with the second yellow, but that happens when your surname is the Greek word for clumsiness.

Laurent Koscielny – 6

Imagine being pretty slow already, then suffering a really bad injury that keeps you out for a long time, then coming back and somehow being your team’s quickest central defender?

Nacho Monreal – 5

Was not good.

But on the plus side he could probably get a job as Ismaila Sarr’s agent right about now.

Granit Xhaka – 6

RENNES, FRANCE – MARCH 07: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal throws a piece of screwed up paper thrown by fans from the pitch during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 First Leg match between Stade Rennais and Arsenal at Roazhon Park on March 07, 2019 in Rennes, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

It is news to say that he was booked? Well he was booked.

Oh and he played some pretty idiotic passes across of the face the Gunners box at times, but again, not news, etc.

Lucas Torreira – 6

That early chance looked bigger the longer the game went on, didn’t it?

Struggled to make an impact and probably wouldn’t have stayed on if he wasn’t suspended for the weekend.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 5


He’s the player that suffers the most from the red card, and he seemed to approach his emergency right-side of defence duties with all the enthusiasm of a turkey looking forward to Christmas.

Did manage to block a free-kick when in a one-man wall though. Hard.

Mesut Ozil – 5

Modern art is weird, isn’t it?

Alex Iwobi – 7

Seems to get a rough time from a lot of Arsenal fans doesn’t he? But you wouldn’t like to play against him.

He’s awkward but effective, and after a goal that would have been hailed as a stunning finish had it been produced by any other member of the front four, he also teed up Torreira for a big early chance.

Hooked early in the second half for tactics and that, which was harsh on him.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 5


Hugo Lloris might have broken him.

Subs

Matteo Guendouzi (on for Iwobi, 53) – 6

Could be forgiven for thinking his more experienced teammates would help him out more.

Aaron Ramsey (on for Ozil, 70) – 5

Had a bit of a mad run about upfront there, then Sarr’s goal happened.

Sead Kolasinac (on for Aubameyang, 79) – 6

Isn’t Monreal.

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