Champions League Player Ratings: Arsenal 1-0 Udinese

The story line wasn't how Arsenal would cope with life after Cesc Fàbregas, more so, how Udinese would cope after selling three of their best players: Alexis Sánchez, Gökhan İnler and Cristián Zapata.

So the match-up was about the weakened vs. the feeble, though Udinese looked anything but feeble. 

In spite of Arsenal's shambolic and disoriented defending, they've registered two consecutive clean sheets.

Udinese will be disappointed they didn't score a crucial away goal, however, they'll be confident they can score twice against a very questionable Arsenal defense. 

Whilst watching the game, you would have seen the camera pan to Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, who was poker faced at times, fidgety and increasingly frustrated as the game prolonged. 

What will compound his frustrations is UEFA's intention to launch further disciplinary action against the Frenchmen for communicating with assistant manager Pat Rice via coach Boro Primorac.

Here are the Arsenal and Udinese player ratings.     

Arsenal: Wojciech Szczęsny

Player rating: 7.5/10

A clean sheet is a clean sheet. 

Wojciech Szczęsny would have had egg in his face if he had conceded Antonio Di Natale's long range free kick, but he had his cross bar to thank. 

Rather then bolt out with all guns blazing like Jens Lehmann, Szczęsny made an astounding decision to stand his ground as Pablo Armero dashed towards goal.

In the end, it was Armero who cracked under the pressure and Arsenal has Szczęsny for not conceding a crucial away goal.

He also saved a Di Natale free kick which curled around the wall.   

Szczęsny looks promising and manager Arsène Wenger is right again. 

Rather then spend big on Igor Akinfeev, Wenger may have found a gem in Szczęsny.   

Udinese: Samir Handanović

Player rating: 7/10

He was not at fault when Theo Walcott ghosted in from close range to score in the fourth minute, but what a save from Samir Handanović to deny Walcott late in the game. 

Astounding, brilliant, marvelous; call it what you want. 

If Walcott had scored, it would have been lights out for Udinese, instead, the Italian club can see the light at the end of tunnel with destiny in their hands. 

Score two goals against a weak defense and don't concede in the second leg. 

Arsenal: Bacary Sagna

Player rating: 4/10

Pablo Armero caused Bacary Sagna havoc all night long.

It was comical defending to watch Armero blaze straight past Sagna and the Arsenal defense, you could see Sagna thought about committing a professional foul but then decided against it.

Lee Dixon would have brought down Armero with no hesitation for the good of the team. 

Sagna was missing in action when Armero had all the time and space to send Antonio Di Natale through on goal, only for Johan Djourou to save Sagna some face. 

It was an off night for Sagna and there's no doubt he'll bounce back to the normal solid right back Arsenal fans are accustomed to.     

Udinese: Joel Ekstrand

Player rating: 6/10

For a center back prone to being dismissed, Joel Ekstrand did well not to suffer that fate, mind you he was cautioned in the first minute. 

Played out of position at right back, Ekstrand defended admirably against Gervinho. 

Arsenal: Thomas Vermaelen

Player rating: 8/10

Sure, football is a team game but how can Thomas Vermaelen be at fault when he's playing with an inept defensive partner? 

There were too many occasions where Vermaelen bailed out Laurent Koscielny.

The Belgian's performances have shown why Arsenal fans are so against the possibility of him playing at left back, even though he is a legitimate left back.   

Udinese: Mehdi Benatia

Player rating: 7/10

Strong performance from Mehdi Benatia who rendered compatriot Marouane Chamakh useless. 

Surprisingly, Benatia didn't pick up a yellow card.  

Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny

Player rating: 4/10

Where's the competent, rugged, tough and confident Laurent Koscielny that played against Barcelona?

Why has he been replaced by the guy who lost Arsenal the Carling Cup?

It's nothing short of a miracle that Arsenal has had two clean sheets in a row with Koscielny in defense.  

Udinese: Danilo

Player rating: 6.5/10

Where was he when Theo Walcott scored? 

Aside from that momentary lapse in concentration, Danilo and Mehdi Benatia enjoyed bullying around an anemic looking Marouane Chamakh.   

Arsenal: Kieran Gibbs

Player rating: 6/10

Kieran Gibbs is more interested in playing as a left winger then as a left back.

Not since a pre-José Mourinho Marcelo have I seen a left back so negligent in defending.

Gibbs looks good going forward, but he plays at left back, meaning he has to defend.

When he came off with an injury, Arsenal fans must been groaning at the fact that Thomas Vermaelen was shifted to left back, even though the Belgian is very comfortable playing in that position.   

Udinese: Neuton

Player rating: 5.5/10

He was at fault when Theo Walcott scored. The 21-year-old Brazilian did his best at left back, even though he's a center back. 

Like teammate Joel Ekstrand, early yellow cards did not deter both of them from going in hard. 

This is the type of no hold bars defending Arsenal needs to get into their system.  

Arsenal: Alex Song

Player rating: 7/10

If it wasn't for Alex Song's misplaced pass, Pablo Armero would never have had the chance to go on that long almost comical run through the Arsenal defense. 

Song represents what Arsenal needs right now: determination, grit and steel.

Throughout the game, he had to deal with Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and Kwadwo Asamoah and Song played well against the two.

Also, he made an astounding block to deny Mauricio Isla.  

Udinese: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu

Player rating: 6.5/10

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu did what was expected of him, and along with Kwadwo Asamoah, ganged up on Alex Song to control the midfield.

Arsenal: Tomáš Rosický

Player rating: 4.5/10

Tomáš Rosický looked good early on, but then he went back to his old ways and faded out of the game.

It's a sad state of affairs for the Czech, who during his Borussia Dortmund's days looked destined for super-stardom.  

Udinese: Kwadwo Asamoah

Player rating: 8/10

Excellent work rate from Kwadwo Asamoah, who also showed glimpses of quality in releasing Pablo Armero.

The combination between Asamoah and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu was pivotal in Udinese's play and surely Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger will do something about it.    

No doubt in my mind that Asamoah will be moving to a big club in the near future for a substantial transfer fee.  

Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey

Player rating: 6.5/10

Aaron Ramsey showed flashes of class with the assist to Theo Walcott and his general link up play in midfield.

Time is on the Welshmen's side, but he does need to provide more quality on a regular basis.

Rather then Arsenal spending money this season, perhaps they should give Ramsey one season to see if he has what it takes to be central to their future.  

Udinese: Giampiero Pinzi

Player rating: 6.5/10 

A good little player in the midfield for Udinese, Giampiero Pinzi was a safe outlet for quick passes, though his impact dwindled as the game progressed.

His position in midfield isn't 100 percent solidified, so he needs to watch his back for Almen Abdi, whose career has been in free fall in recent seasons.  

Arsenal: Gervinho

Player rating: 6.5/10

Great work ethic, but there was no end product from Gervinho.  

During preseason, he's shown he can replicate his form at Lille for Arsenal and now we know he's also a hard worker unlike a certain number 29.

What will hurt Arsenal is a suspended Gervinho will join Alex Song in sitting out games against Liverpool and Manchester United.  

Udinese: Mauricio Isla

Player rating: 7.5/10

Whilst Kieran Gibbs was mulling over how to celebrate his next goal, Mauricio Isla raided the left flank with much joy. 

He didn't have the same success when Thomas Vermaelen was temporarily at left back.

However, Isla then had the most joy out of a 19-year-old Carl Jenkinson who was being played out of position.  

Arsenal: Theo Walcott

Player rating: 7/10

Please play him as a forward because he's done his dues as a one trick pony winger. 

There's more to his game then just flying past the full back and sending in a cross. 

Theo Walcott possesses the positional awareness to exploit defenders of their game as evident with his goal and then forcing Samir Handanović into a sublime save.

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger insists on playing with this one forward policy in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-4-1 as was the case against Udinese.

How's that gone for you, Wenger?

Change the formation, get Walcott into the game and he stated he wants to be a forward not a winger.   

Udinese: Pablo Armero

Player rating: 8.5/10

Pablo Armero was brilliant tonight and he just ripped apart the Arsenal defense, especially a generally solid Bacary Sagna. 

Armero's ridiculous 50 yard run was fostered more on Arsenal's defensive ineptitude rather then the Colombian's skill.

Didn't the Arsenal players think of hacking Armero down just like opposing players hack them down?

A constant threat on the flanks and Arsenal really has to hope he doesn't play well in the second leg.

Arsenal: Marouane Chamakh

Player rating: 2/10

Anemic, anonymous, disinterested, half-hearted, poor, weak and a waste of space.

Arsenal may as well have played with 10 men.  

Now the question is why was Marouane Chamakh so out of it against Udinese? 

I'm going to guess Ramadan, which ends on August 29.

If so, why did Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger play the Moroccan?

You have Theo Walcott begging to be a forward and you play someone who is fasting?  

Udinese: Antonio Di Natale

Player rating: 7/10

Alexis who?

Life without Alexis Sánchez would logically mean less goals, however, Antonio Di Natale could have had a hat trick tonight. 

He was denied by the cross bar, denied by Wojciech Szczęsny and then denied by Johan Djourou. 

Substitutes

* Will rate out of five, given the substitutes didn't play a half let alone a full game. 

Arsenal

Johan Djourou: Showed more defensive ability in 10 minutes then Laurent Koscielny did the entire game. Djourou's crucial block to deny Antonio Di Natale a certain goal, therefore allowing Arsenal to go into the next leg without an away goal deficit, is the reason why the Swiss defender gets full marks. 5/5

 Carl Jenkinson: Really struggled not only being played out of position but also against a flying winger in Mauricio Isla. 1/5

 Emmanuel Frimpong: The youngster came on and committed a few fouls. Of course as long as they aren't in the penalty box or anywhere near goal, it's fine. This is the type of tenacity and steel Arsenal needs. They need midfielders there who can crunch Pablo Armero, rather then allowing him to make a mockery of Arsenal's defense.

One problem, Frimpong needs to win the ball more, because it becomes counterproductive if you keep fouling because that's the same as giving away possession. Very impressed with his work rate and bullish attitude. 4/5      

Udinese

Giovanni Pasquale: Looked a lot better then Neuton, but wasn't anything special. 3/5

Almen Abdi: Played rubbish minutes, but in the space of seven years, he went from being the next big Swiss thing to a fallen star. If he can't break into Udinese's team this year, perhaps he should return to Switzerland. N/A 

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