Mikel Arteta – 4/10
Mikel Arteta struggled as he was relentlessly closed down by Chelsea’s hard working players, but made tackles and decent passes when he could.
The Spaniard could certainly have done with a defensive midfield partner to help protect the back four.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 2/10
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has shown in recent weeks why he is so highly rated by so many in the game, with immensely positive performances thanks to incisive dribbling through the middle.
This game only showed his weaknesses, with a poor defensive contribution and insane hand ball of an Eden Hazard shot that wasn’t even going in resulting in a red card for club colleague Kieran Gibbs due to mistaken identity.
Taken off at half time.
Tomas Rosicky – 3/10
Tomas Rosicky ran hard as usual, but barely made any difference in attacking areas, and was pinned back in his own half for much of the game.
Was unable to make a mark on the game with his industrious, technical play.
Santi Cazorla – 4/10
Santi Cazorla certainly struggled with the power of Nemanja Matic and David Luiz in his midfield zone, but was one of the few Arsenal players who kept going regardless of the scoreline, and was involved in the Gunners’ best attacking moves.
Lukas Podolski – 2/10
The gamble with selecting Lukas Podolski is that his lack of work rate or defensive contribution will be compensated for by his powerful and accurate finishing.
That did not prove the case, with Kieran Gibbs regularly facing two men and thus easily beaten. Podolski was substituted upon Gibbs’ red card, and one suspects he will not start the next game.
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