Arsenal FC vs. FC Barcelona: UEFA Champions League Player Ratings

LONDON—Player Ratings for the Arsenal-Barcelona, UEFA Champions League Match.

ARSENAL

Wojciech Szczesny 

Good Champions League debut for the keeper. Kept a calmness throughout the game and composed when out of his area with two very important saves late in the game. 

Rating: 8

Gael Clichy 

Failed to stay in the defensive line to keep Villa in place to score, and also committed a lot of turnovers. Made up for mistakes with a great pass to van Persie for the 1-1 goal. 

Rating: 6

Laurent Koscielny* 

Heart and soul of the Arsenal defense with an aggressive yet surprising performance. Caused turnovers and picked up the slack when the back line was sloppy. Kept Arsenal in it.

Rating: 8

Emmanuel Eboue

Solid performance with good defending and got up in support of Walcott but often led to him losing Arsenal's possession.

Rating: 6

Johan Djourou

Looked anxious and nervous throughout the game and made some costly turnovers; luckily for him he had others support. On a positive note, he helped hold a high line through the match. 

Rating: 6

Samir Nasri*

Started off a little sloppy but calmed down in the second half using creativity and brilliant passes to Walcott and van Persie and then gave a beautiful pass to Arshavin for the win. 

Rating: 8

Jack Wilshere*

Always looked to start something when the ball was at his feet and always created space when he held the ball in his possession. Creative and neat football.

Rating: 9

Cesc Fabregas

Created opportunities and worked hard in his area. Showed leadership which the Gunners needed and kept everything flowing for Arsenal. 

Rating: 7

Alexandre Song

Yellow card on a bad take-down on Messi and committed numerous fouls after that. Didn't help the flow of Arsenal's football and was replaced by the eventual game winner goal scorer Arshavin. 

Rating: 5

Theo Walcott

Drove at the defense well and confused the opposition with good dribbling skills early but then was tuned out of the game and switched for Bendtner. 

Rating: 7

Robin Van Persie*

Played his game and had great chanced against Valdes, eventually scoring the equalizer to surge the momentum at the Emirates for the home side. 

Rating: 8

Substitutes

Andrey Arshavin*

Came in for the sloppy Song, and helped the tempo of the Gunners game. Made good off the ball runs and turn the score in Arsenals favor with a beautiful strike.

Rating: 7 

Nicklas Bendtner

Came in a little late in my opinion and only had a quarter hour to make a difference making his presence minimally felt. 

Rating: 5.5

BARCELONA

Vitor Valdes

Saved when called upon in the first half and then let two passed him later in the game. 

Rating: 5.5

Maxwell

Struggled against the Gunners wingers and then failed to get up and assist in any attacks and is largely at fault for the game winner.

Rating: 5

Eric Abidal

Played solid defense and cut sure chances when his team needed, distributed well from the center-back position and even made a highlight saving header to deny Van Persie.

Rating: 7

Gerard Pique 

Focused well from the start of the game. Wasn't challenged much in the back and showed a great display of passing. Will miss next match due to questionable yellow.

Rating: 7

Daniel Alves

Good hustle on and off the ball and had bursts of attacking. Played his defensive role well although he was beaten by Nasri a few times.

Rating: 6

Andres Iniesta*

Always found open space and gaps in the Arsenal midfield and slipped some dangerous passes to Messi throughout the match. Was subbed for Adriano late in the game.

Rating: 7

Sergio Busquets

Came on strong early and kept Fabregas quiet then faded in the later stages of the game as Arsenal came back to win. 

Rating: 6

Xavi*

Passed like a true champion and found players with no problem, in other words played as he always does. Just wasn't enough got Barca. 

Rating: 7

Lionel Messi*

Control the tempo and dictated Barcelona's attack. Had numerous misses surprisingly, but then did a Messi-like thing when he slipped the pass to Villa to open the score line. 

Rating: 7.5

David Villa*

Scored opening goal with calmness and was exceptional in this game with his runs to create off the ball. Good stuff before being subbed for Keita.

Rating: 8

Pedro

Struggled to make his presence felt, and had an overall quiet game. Got caught offsides a few times but did move the ball around well. 

Rating: 6

Substitutes 

Adriano

Came in super late for Iniesta.

Rating: None

Seydou Keita 

Came in for Villa and Barcelona lost composure a little bit.

Rating: 5

My Man of the Match: Jack Wilshere