Matt Turner – 6
He had very little to do throughout the game but had a couple nervy moments in the first half on the ball which the home support picked up on. He made a couple good stops through reading the game and will be tested far more by Man City in the next round, should he start of course.
Takehiro Tomiyasu – 4
Ultimately there was a couple of good tackles for Takehiro Tomiyasu, but he struggled to support Bukayo Saka. Ben White, despite being also a defensive full-back, has begun to offer more and more in the final third, but besides a single overlap and poor cross, the Japanese international offered very little.
Rob Holding – 7
Rob Holding maintained his record of putting in a solid defensive performance as many expect. He dealt well when the ball was forced on him in tight situations and distributed within his ability, often going long.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 7
It was the Brazilian that Mikel Arteta opted to start instead of William Saliba in this game. He was a consistent force at the back and didn’t look uncomfortable throughout.
Kieran Tierney – 6
Overlapping down the left and putting in strong defensive challenges. His role remained wide however unlike his alternative colleague Oleksandr Zinchenko.
This was perhaps somewhat surprising considering the Scot had been adapting his game suit the role that Mikel Arteta has demanded from his left-back.
He performed a great driving run through the Oxford midfield in the first half. Followed by excellent defending in a two-on-one situation that Tierney read the brilliantly to cover the cross and clear but it wasn’t enough to see him stay on as Arteta brought on Zinchenko early in the second half.
Mohamed Elneny – 6
Mohamed Elneny produced exactly the type of performance we have all come to expect from the Egyptian. Composed, controlled and not out of the ordinary besides his collector’s item goal.
What Elneny is criticised for is what he lacks which is exactly what Thomas Partey has. The athleticism and will to push the play forwards always separates the two and were the Ghanaian to go missing for any length of time, it takes a huge part of the Gunners’ play out which at the highest level will matter greatly.
Albert Sambi Lokonga – 4
It was a worrying performance from Albert Sambi Lokonga. You feel these are the games that the Belgian has to take as opportunities and along with his midfield teammates who started the match, Lokonga ultimately failed to get into the game.
It was unsurprising to see him brought off just 15 minutes into the second half. The free-kick that Arsenal earned and gave them the lead was brought about through both Xhaka and Zinchenko immediately making the impact needed.
Fabio Vieira – 6
Similar to Lokonga, Fabio Vieira has to take these opportunities if he is to make a dent in this Arsenal squad but from the first minute the Portuguese looked off the pace. Giving the ball away in a dangerous position just moments in, Oxford knew they could target him.
That said, in the second half he managed to drag his rating higher up thanks to the two assists he earned. The first a brilliant curling free-kick finding the head of Elneny and the second seeing Eddie Nketiah in space ahead of him and slotting him through one-on-one to get the Gunners’ second.
Bukayo Saka – 5
Probably Bukayo Saka’s quietest game of the season so far. The winger couldn’t get into the game and his support from Tomiyasu was certainly a big reason why.
His shot early in the second half was his only real sight of goal. He was replaced after spending some time on the ground, Arteta will hope that any knock is not serious ahead of the north London derby.
Gabriel Martinelli – 6
Djavan Anderson and Josh Murphy caused Gabriel Martinelli plenty of problems and defended well against the Brazilian. Better in the second half, cutting inside the pair on numerous occasions but lacking the final ball.
However, it remained a frustrating evening for the Brazilian, outside of the assist for Nketiah, and with the Gunners looking to find some reinforcement on the left-wing, with Mykhaylo Mudryk the name mentioned, Martinelli might have to start looking over his shoulder. But that is exactly what the Gunners need in this squad.
Eddie Nketiah - 8
He might be limited to few chances, but it is fair to say when they fall to him, he takes them. Slotted through one-on-one by Fabio Vieira, Eddie Nketiah rounded Eddie McGinty before passing the ball into an empty net.
His second, another one-on-one, this time much closer to the goal after Emile Smith Rowe played in the forward and he found the chipped finish over the Oxford keeper. Two goals in another start takes him to seven goals in 11 starts this season (all goals coming in games in which he started).
Substitutes
Granit Xhaka - 7
The impact was immediate from Granit Xhaka. As soon as Lokonga was replaced by the Swiss international, every memory of how direct the passing has been from the Gunners this season returned in front of the stands.
Oleksandr Zinchenko - 7
Just like Xhaka, who he entered the field of play with, Oleksandr Zinchenko returned the Gunners left flank to the norm. Operating in his inverted role, his combination with Xhaka and soon-to-come-on Smith Rowe was brilliant and helped Arsenal take control of the game.
Emile Smith Rowe - 6
It was quite the return for the 20-plus minutes he got on the field, great play in the middle operating more centrally, even having a chance at goal deflect just wide. It will be exciting to see him come back.
Marquinhos – n/a
Not on the field long enough to make an impact.
Ben White – n/a
Not on the field long enough to make an impact.
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