HULL, ENGLAND - MARCH 08: Olivier Giroud of Arsenal celebrates scoring the second Arsenal goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round Replay match between Hull City and Arsenal at KC Stadium on March 8, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Arsenal vs Hull City Player Ratings: Round Two
Arsenal dominated possession and the scoreboard, but was it an all-encompassing victory? Not so much. Here are the player ratings.
Arsenal had a supposed confidence booster against Tottenham and the idea was that that confidence would carry over into a completely rotated squad.
For awhile, it didn’t. But once the first goal went in, Hull City‘s confidence gradually crumbled until Arsenal turned into world beaters. Here are the Arsenal player ratings from the match.
DAVID OSPINA
GK, Arsenal FC7.2
He did good. Zero goals is good. Made the needed saves, including one incredible one. Still awkward on set pieces, but not awkward enough to give away a goal and that’s what matters.
CALUM CHAMBERS
RB, Arsenal FC7.1
Oh Calum. Sometimes you look so dauntless and ready and sometimes you just look so inexperienced and volatile. And it’s not like he switches every few games, he switches every couple minutes. The potential is there. That is so obvious. Just has to iron out the kinks.
PER MERTESACKER
CB, Arsenal FC6.8
Bloody eye? Check. Concussion? Check. It was a hard day at work for our lumbering German. He lasted just 33 minutes but he was good in that span.
GABRIEL PAULISTA
CB, Arsenal FC7.0
Very controlled until he too, got hurt. You’d think that Krystian Bielik was using Tanya Harding tactics to get some first team play. Gabriel’s is supposedly the least serious injury of them all, so at least that’s good.
KIERAN GIBBS
LB, Arsenal FC7.4
Proving himself very capable lately (and healthy too!). Incredibly fast, gets forward well and can get back just as easily. May get a long look in the starting XI if Monreal has to play centrally.
MATHIEU FLAMINI
MID, Arsenal FC7.2
What do I always say? When you don’t notice Flamini, it was a good day. I didn’t notice Flamini.
MOHAMED ELNENY
MID, Arsenal FC7.3
Mixed result. I love the fire. I love the cheeky rainbow shot and his willingness to cut loose from distance. I do not like how easily he gets bossed off the ball. Still though. He is an engine and that is incredibly useful.
JOEL CAMPBELL
MID, Arsenal FC7.6
Such a good player. Yeah, he gets a little whimsical at times, but it keeps things interesting. He is innovative!
ALEX IWOBI
MID, Arsenal FC7.8
Superb. You couldn’t go five minutes without Iwobi getting involved. Very alert on the ball and picked out some dynamic passes.
THEO WALCOTT
MID, Arsenal FC7.7
Two very composed finishes. Saw Giroud raise the pot, so Walcott called him on it. How nice was that to see? Do we have three strikers now or am I getting ahead of myself?
OLIVIER GIROUD
ST, Arsenal FC7.9
MAN OF THE MATCH. It was a close race for man of the match. Iwobi, Walcott and Campbell were all in the running. Both goals had a fortuitous twist, but it still took a finishing blow, which Giroud has not been able to provide for Arsenal recently. One of his most admirable qualities is his ability to occupy defenses in order to let his team mates find space around the box. Was on point today.
NACHO MONREAL
DEF, Arsenal FC7.2
Forced to come on when Per was concussed. Did his job capably, as he always does.
AARON RAMSEY
MID, Arsenal FC6.7
Pulled an Arteta. Came on for an injured Gabriel and hurt himself 16 minutes later. As a non-contact injury, it did not look good. Exhaustion is a real thing and if Wenger doesn’t accommodate for it, Ramsey will never stay healthy. Nor will Arsenal in general.
JEFF REINE-ADELAIDE
MID, Arsenal FC6.8
Got involved in the attack a bit. If the team keeps dropping like they have been, the young Frenchman may start seeing more game time soon.
