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Arsenal player ratings: Nicholas Pepe shines as Gabriel Martinelli celebrates full debut goal at West Ham


ARSENAL picked up their first win under interim boss Freddie Ljungberg against struggling West Ham.

Goals from Gabriel Martinelli – on his first Premier League start – £72million record buy Nicolas Pepe and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turned the match on its head after the Hammers led 1-0.

 Gabriel Martinelli and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrate the skipper’s third for Arsenal at West Ham

Gabriel Martinelli and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrate the skipper’s third for Arsenal at West HamCredit: PA:Press Association

Martinelli put to bed a torrid 60 minutes for the Gunners against West Ham with a smart finish to cancel out Angelo Ogbonna’s opener.


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The Brazilian’s goal opened the floodgates and Pepe struck a stunning second moments later.

Aubameyang then got on the end of Pepe’s cross to make it 3-1 and seal Ljungberg’s first win.

With Arsenal in desperate need of a victory, this not only earned three vital points but Gunners fans will hope it sends Martinelli and Pepe on a much-needed rampant run of form.

Here’s how SunSport’s Marc Mayo rated the players on Monday night.

Bernd Leno – 6/10

The goalkeeper was pretty helpless for the deflected goal and otherwise comfortable. A night to stay out of the headlines, achieved with ease.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 6

Initially threatening in attack but unable to get into the box and deliver that killer blow. A usefully competent return to the side after Hector Bellerin’s warm-up injury.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos – 5

Why would a team pass it around at the back with a player so blatantly incapable of doing so? The centre-back was slow and too often troubled when put under any pressure.

 Nicolas Pepe hails his goal, Arsenal’s second, against West Ham

Nicolas Pepe hails his goal, Arsenal’s second, against West HamCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Calum Chambers – 6

Smart in his positioning and got stuck in to help deal with the wily Michail Antonio.

Kieran Tierney – 5

Came off injured midway through the first-half after a weak performance, contributing little in defence and without much link-up play present when venturing forward.

Lucas Torreira – 5

Shown by Declan Rice and Mark Noble how to lead a press – until Arsenal scored and the Hammers’ midfield collapsed. Struggled to get a grip on the game whenever it heated up.

Granit Xhaka – 4

Showed ideas on the ball but with shocking execution. A misplaced pass, one of many, almost gifted West Ham what would have been a vital 2-0 lead.

 Gabriel Martinelli celebrates his goal on his first Premier League start for Arsenal

Gabriel Martinelli celebrates his goal on his first Premier League start for ArsenalCredit: AP:Associated Press

Nicolas Pepe – 8

Actually Arsenal’s biggest threat in the first-half, producing a number of direct dribbles that weren’t matched with any sort of end product. Came to life as the game got stretched late on, unleashing a wicked finish for the winner and crossing to find the third via Aubameyang.

Mesut Ozil – 5

Had the best chance early on when finding himself having to head the ball into the net – and failing. Generally competent on the ball but is that what Ozil is for? Without any real creativity in his play, this one largely passed him by.

Gabriel Martinelli – 7

In his first Premier League start, the Brazilian was absent when out on the wing and made his biggest impact when drifting inside. A calm finish on the hour mark showed why he is one of Europe’s deadliest young forwards.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 7

Like Martinelli, Aubameyang was ineffective when floating into the channels bar a superb cross that found the head of Ozil in the first-half. But, while not a winger, he is one hell of a striker and put his quiet night to bed with a classic finish on the turn for 3-1.

SUBS
Sead Kolasinac – 6 (on for Kieran Tierney 29)

A lovely cross for the goal from a player not even meant to be on the bench tonight. A vital confidence boost if Tierney is set for another spell on the sidelines.

Other subs: Matteo Guendouzi (on for Xhaka 86); Reiss Nelson (on for Pepe 88)


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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