Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace: Live Player Ratings for the Gunners
February 2, 2014
Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League table with a routine 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored both goals in the second half to win his team the points and consign a very negative Palace side to defeat.
| Arsenal Player Ratings | ||
| Player | HT | FT |
| Szczesny | 7 | 8 |
| Sagna | 6 | 6 |
| Koscielny | 6 | 5 |
| Mertesacker | 7 | 8 |
| Monreal | 7 | 7 |
| Arteta | 7 | 7 |
| Oxlade-Chamberlain | 6 | 9 |
| Cazorla | 6 | 7 |
| Ozil | 6 | 6 |
| Podolski | 7 | 6 |
| Giroud | 7 | 7 |
| b/r | ||
First half Arsenal analysis
Szczesny: Has done his minimal work perfectly well, taking two crosses and making one save.
Sagna: Needs to provide more width getting forward.
Mertesacker: Stopping all of Palace's sporadic ventures forward.
Koscielny: Has been beaten twice by Chamakh and hasn't had much else to do aside from that.
Monreal: Getting forward well but needs a little more penetration behind full-backs.
Arteta: Composed in possession, easy for him in midfield so far.
Oxlade-Chamberlain: Fairly disciplined in his midfield role but perhaps could do with breaking forward at times.
Cazorla: Good use of the ball but like all Arsenal's attackers, needs to up the tempo.
Ozil: Neat first-time passes and touches but lacking incisiveness.
Podolski: Making good off the ball runs. Could be Arsenal's best route to goal with his runs behind defence.
Giroud: Linking up well and laying the ball off regularly, but no chances himself.
Second half Arsenal analysis
Szczesny: Made a spectacular save at 1-0 and did his job well. Another clean sheet.
Sagna: Not his best game but didn't play poorly.
Mertesacker: Pretty much perfect defensively until a late yellow card for a foul.
Koscielny: Poor game really, sloppy back-passes, turned easily and lucky he wasn't more worked.
Monreal: Offered good support going forward.
Arteta: Recycled ball well in deep areas.
Oxlade-Chamberlain: As per half-time comments, he broke forward more often and was the game-changer.
Cazorla: Quiet but effective at linking play.
Ozil: Disappointing performance overall.
Podolski: Not overly involved after the break.
Giroud: Linked play, occupied defenders. Not a goal threat.