Winners
Martin Odegaard
It’s always important to appreciate a player whose not necessarily had the best form of late, turn it around and put in a display which takes a game out of the hands of the opponent. Twenty-two Premier League goal contributions now this season, double that of what he achieved last season, it’s quite the upturn in form.
The goals he scored today represent the drastic improvement in his composure and how clinical he can be in the box. The next stage? Ensuring in the games where Arsenal aren’t as dominant that he can still feature and wrestle control back toward his team.
Jakub Kiwior
A big day and a big performance. Jakub Kiwior showed perhaps that he could have been brought in instead of Holding in any of the last three games, which will count against his manager.
READ MORE: Arsenal player ratings vs Chelsea as Odegaard and Jesus shine, Jorginho makes starting claim
But putting that aside, the Polish international had a couple of moments of panic which is acceptably normal considering how little he’s played. Those aside, the word that sums him up is anticipation; as he read both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling to a tee and to great effect.
Leandro Trossard
In the last eight Premier League games that Leandro Trossard has started, Arsenal have won every single one of them. More so, in the four league games before the win over Chelsea that Arsenal failed to win, the Belgian was not selected in the starting XI for any of them.
Trossard needs to be in this team, Arsenal just look better when he’s on the field and that counts for when he’s come on as a substitute too. It’s an incredibly difficult thing to achieve with the importance of all three of the forwards.
Perhaps his role lies deeper and in place of Granit Xhaka. But when the Swiss international grabs two assists in a game how do you then drop him? I do not envy the man having to make these decisions, speaking of which…
Losers
Mikel Arteta
Now, hear me out. No, this isn’t an unjust criticism of Mikel Arteta for the match with Chelsea, the line-up, the tactics and the substitutions were all near-perfect and the Spaniard can be happy with what happened in the majority of the match.
The reason why he features he is the lose-lose situation that his team selection put him in. Playing Kiwior who, as discussed, impressed was only going to drum up questions on why the Polish international couldn’t have played in any of the last four games where the Gunners looked less technically compatible with Rob Holding in the side.
Had Kiwior had a terrible game and Arsenal lost, Arteta would have faced criticism for starting him. Kiwior inadvertently created a dynamic that will see his manager face some question marks despite it being the right choice for this very fixture.
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
Well, that was a rather predictable performance from the former Arsenal captain. A game in which a side is second to every ball and having to watch as their opponent dominates the ball is the worst environment for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
This had become obvious to Arsenal but clearly not Frank Lampard. It was a very questionable decision and his half-time substitution was the cherry on the cake for the Gunners fans.
In the warm-ups, Aubameyang took part in shooting drills and had one of his strikes saved to great cheers and satirical applause from those watching in the home crowd – a sign of what would be to come. With every touch, Aubameyang was booed and it symbolised the complete transition from hero to villain with his Arsenal history in ruins.
Mykhailo Mudryk
Speaking of booing, Mykhailo Mudryk was the other target of the crowd on the night. The former Gunners transfer target came very close to a switch to north London before making the move to Chelsea in January and the home support have not forgotten.
Having watched a fair share of Mudryk, there was perhaps some additional spark in his game on the night. Almost wanting to show what Arsenal had missed out on and yet he remained unable to make a difference to what was very quickly an inevitable result.
READ NEXT:
Arsenal player ratings vs Chelsea as Odegaard and Jesus shine, Jorginho makes starting claim
Arsenal given chance for bargain transfer of World Cup winner and it's not Alexis Mac Allister
Every word Mikel Arteta said on Arsenal reset, Gabriel injury concern and 'exceptional' Odegaard
Arsenal senior players' transfer fates reveal Kieran Tierney dilemma as William Saliba signs
Transfer news LIVE: All the latest news and rumours from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham
