Arsenal vs Olympiakos: Player Ratings

Arsenal's UEFA Champions League clash versus Greek powerhouse Olympiakos had it all.

Excitement, drama and emotion. Gunners fans the world over have had to endure a roller-coaster curve of the aforementioned emotions nearly every game of the new season. Such is the result of big-name departures and injuries that continually plague Arsenal.

Arsenal now find themselves second, with four points in their Champions League group—2 behind group leaders Marseilles, who host Arsenal during the third match day of the prestigious tournament.

The victory on Wednesday night, though arguably a fragile and shaky one, has been hailed as a collectively solid display by the team.

But what about the individuals? How did the Szczesnys, Sagnas and Artetas do? Was Mertesacker composed and collected at the back? And did Chamakh finally register a good performance?

Check out this slideshow for Arsenal's player ratings from their clash with Greek champions Olympiakos.

Enjoy!

Wojciech Szczesny

Rating: 6.5

Despite what statistics and the scoreline might point out, the confident Pole really had very little to do in terms of clean shot-stopping.

His decision-making was spot on and his ventures towards the perimeter of the box, like his clearances, were executed in stellar fashion.

However, Woijciech Szczesny was found wanting on a few nerve-racking occasions.

Some have mentioned their concern for Szczesny's inability, or some say unwillingness, to even just attempt a stop at the header which eventually found its way towards goal. Though it could, and arguably will, be attributed to Arsenal's new emphasis on the zonal marking system, the Pole's reaction, or lack of it, was called into question then.

Another occasion where he was exposed was the left-foot curling shot by the Greek side's captain, as well as a first-half shot from inside the box which prompted a goal-line block from Mikel Arteta.

Bacary Sagna

Rating: 6

A performance far removed from the high standards the reliable French RB has set himself during his tenure in the red and white. Bacary Sagna was simply exposed far too often for his and Arsenal's liking.

Though this could be a result of a lack of sufficient cover—we've all seen how a disinterested winger can affect the full-back behind him—Sagna has in the past managed to play admirably with players less experienced and accomplished than Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Still, Sagna was turned over time and time again and his less than stellar performance gave the visitors some room to roam on the side of the pitch he ideally should have been marshalling. 

Andre Santos

Rating: 7.0

Despite scoring the goal that arguably proved to be the difference between the two teams, Santos doesn't get an extraordinarily high rating simply due to his tendency to abandon his post during his forward dashing movements.

His habit of sprinting down the left into space, though, proved the divider as it was his run that prompted the cutting pass from Rosicky, which eventually turned into a chance for Chamakh that led to the goal.

When he wasn't ignoring his defensive duties, he looked imposing and relatively assured. Besides the left-footed curling shot from Olympiakos' captain, Santos didn't seem to give his opponents an inch while on the back foot.

Alex Song

Rating: 7.0

Despite playing as a makeshift central defender, the combative enforcer didn't look too far removed from his natural midfield elements. Made timely interceptions, read the game well and even provided the long ball over the top for Oxlade-Chamberlain to latch onto in the build-up to the first goal.

Alex Song's performance last night emphasized just why he's become such an integral part of this Arsenal team.

The goal, as well as a few shaky moments where the visitors were able to breach the back line though, do little to emancipate Song of a little criticism. The zonal marking system does little favours to the defence—another indication that a change of personnel, as evident by Song's inclusion but the same lack of exposure, is simply not the answer at the back.

Per Mertesacker

Rating: 7.0

Arguably the German's best performance in the red and white, and considering the periphery of the occasion—Arsenal's need to win following Marseille's victory—not a minute too late.

His reading of the game was on view for all to see, as he continued to make timely interceptions and tackles when the visitors barraged into the final third.

The performance tonight validated Arsene Wenger's pursuit of the "big friendly German," as some Arsenal fans like to call him, and only increases the anticipation level of his prospective partnership with the commanding Thomas Vermaelen.

Emmanuel Frimpong

Rating: 6.0

The strong defensive midfielder, who seems to have found some sort of cult-hero status among the fans, had a fairly balanced evening.

He was good at flaunting his strength to push opponents off the ball and read the game to make a few interceptions decently well. In all, he executed his defensive duties in a no-nonsense manner.

That being said, a defensive midfielder at Arsenal—whether a positive thing or not—has to and often does so much more than just "break up play" and defend from the middle. Passing is a key quality to every midfielder, yet Frimpong's ability to pick out the simple pass seems to be lacking. His inability to link play from front to back—something Song continues to master—also resulted in a perception of a lack of "midfield backbone" on the night.

Tomas Rosicky

Rating: 6.0

Though he was the captain on the night and arguably the most experienced out there, "little Mozart" did little to suggest, as some fans earlier in the year suggested, that he was back to his buzzing pre-injury best three years ago.

He seemed overly enthusiastic to start up attacks, but his tendency to ignore his defensive duties coupled with a lack of end product or final ball simply meant the Czech midfielder proved a highly ineffective playmaker on a night Arsenal were crying out for creativity through the middle.

Still, the fact that he provided the penetrative through ball for Andre Santos to latch onto—which eventually led to the first goal—means he merely escaped a lower rating, as his performance simply wasn't anything to rave out.

Mikel Arteta ★

Rating: 8.5  MOTM

Some may question the rating and attribution of Man of the Match to Mikel Arteta seeing as though he failed to register a goal or an assist during the victory last night. However, the experienced Spaniard adds an element to Arsenal's game which makes one wonder just why Wenger never signed him up sooner—his composed ball-retention skills. 

Arteta was simply faultless, his passes executed to pinpoint perfection and he performed his duties, both going forward and lending a hand going back, with minimum fuss. His ability to spread play and help in linking defence to offense makes him a typical "Arsenal" player, despite only having played his fifth game for the club.

The Spaniard links up well with his teammates and his contribution didn't seem to go unnoticed—even by them, as they seemed more than willing to pass the ball to him. In all, a stellar performance from a player enjoying the added pressure of being "on the world's biggest stage."

Alex-Chamberlain

Rating: 8.0

Under normal circumstances, the startlet's performance might have legitimized a lower rating.

However, on his European debut and only his second full start for the club, 18-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain was able to grab a well-taken goal that arguably helped announce himself to the rest of the footballing world.

He played with great composure and seemed relaxed given the magnitude of the occasion. His diagonal run from out to in—something that took Walcott more than a couple of years to perfect—after which he controlled the ball with his chest was something to behold.

Though people will probably continue raving about his performances and speculating just how far his raw talent and potential may take the young Englishman, there were some grey moments last night. First, his laid-back approach to tracking back, which arguably resulted in an under-par performance from Bacary Sagna, is something that needs to be worked on.

His first touch as well, which let him down in a one-on-one after being released through by Chamakh, needs some tending to as well.

Andrey Arshavin

Rating: 5.5

Perhaps a harsh rating for a player who can be so explosive, the little Russian seemed to live up to his reputation of playing "the passenger" of the team.

Extremely uninvolved—though this may be a symptom of being played out of his preferred position down the middle—Arshavin proved to be an outlet his teammates seemingly preferred not to exploit.

To his credit, he tried to get involved more towards the end of the game and provided a direct threat to the opposition's defence with his willingness to run right at the back line. 

Unfortunately for Arshavin, it was too little too late, as he seems unable to put a foot right these days.

Marouane Chamakh

Rating: 6.5

The much-maligned Morrocan seems to be en route to recapturing that level of confidence that helped him announce himself as a reliable striker soon after his move to The Emirates.

He hustled well, linked up play and his general hold-up ability in the opponent's final third was helpful as he was able to bring others "into play." Also admirably lent a hand at the back on set pieces and even tried defending "from the front," as he chased down opposition defenders and midfielders in an attempt to win back the ball.

Unfortunately for the Moroccan though, he was unable to do the thing all strikers are expected to do: put the ball in the back of the net. A lack of service wasn't much of an excuse either, as he received a beautiful "over-the-top" ball from Arshavin which he managed to miss.

Robin Van Persie, Aaron Ramsey, Keirran Gibbs

Robin van Persie

Rating: 6

Arsenal's technical forward wasn't able to influence play as much as he'd probably have liked with the limited time he had on the pitch. Had one good opportunity in the box, which he decided to try and go for himself rather than pass it for someone in a better position.

Aaron Ramsey

Rating: 5.5

Perhaps a harsh rating. However, the heavily tipped Welshman did little in his cameo appearance to impress any onlookers. Seemed lazy off the ball and was unable to pick out van Persie on a two-on-two on the counter towards the end of the game.

Kierran Gibbs

Rating: NA

Gibbs was hardly on the pitch long enough to do anything worth discussing. Perhaps his legs were being rested for the game at the Lane this Sunday, as his speed will need to be on par when dealing with Aaron Lennon.

Agree or disagree? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, or tweet me @saqibddb if that's how you like to do things.