UEFA Europa League 2017/18: Arsenal 0-0 Red Star Belgrade, Player Ratings
Arsenal progress to the knockout rounds of the UEFA Europa League despite the lacklustre performance at home against Red Star Belgrade.
Arsene Wenger fielded a similar side to the one that took on visitors on their patch of grass the last time over but failed to gain a similar result as the Serbians sat back and let Arsenal play out in front of them.
The Emirates wasn't nearly as full as it used to be but the crowd knew what they were in for given the players that started the game. Here's how they fared:
Arsenal
Matt Macey - 7/10
Barring one terrible of a pass in the first half and a simply exquisite safe to prevent the visitors from taking the lead, the 23-year-old was fairly untroubled and dealt with boredom well.
Mathieu Debuchy - 7.5/10
Another impressive and solid performance from the Frenchman who's been looking for a way out for the past two windows. Won his battles and did his job just as Wenger would've wanted.
Mohamed Elneny - 7.5/10
Still offputting to see the Egyptian at the heart of the defence but he did venture forward and almost got an assist for a lovely lob to Theo Walcott in the second half.
Rob Holding - 7.5/10
The more minutes he gets under his belt, the better he seems to be getting. Often overexposed by Ainsley Maitland-Niles going forward but did well to keep all the threats at bay.
Reiss Nelson - 8/10
He's exciting and he's tricky with the ball at his feet. Ran through a whole battalion of players in the second half only for Theo Walcott to go and find himself offside from the pass.
Joe Willock - 7/10
Promising runs into the final third but needs to improve his decision making. Surprisingly balanced and firm despite his build.
Francis Coquelin - 7.5/10
Won 7 of his 11 duels, won all three of his tackles and was otherwise a deranged energiser bunny looking to make do with the best of chances.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 7/10
He's the most nonchalant-looking player Arsenal have had for a while. And it is frustrating at times how he could've made better decisions in the final third. Great defensively, though.
Theo Walcott - 6.5/10
Was offside.
Jack Wilshere - 8/10
Arsenal's best player of the day and the team's only creative player. He tried as hard as he could to make chances but the two men in front of him just weren't feeling it.
Olivier Giroud - 6.5/10
Was bullied all game and did little of importance to help his side. Needs better support, sure, but he needs to find a way to play against this kind of opposition, too.
Substitutes
Edward Nketiah - 6/10
Came on in the 68th minute to a rapturous cheer of 'Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!' but did little to replicate his feat from midweek last time around. Movement was promising, though.