EDDIE NKETIAH was all smiles alongside Dani Ceballos this week after the two combined to give Arsenal a vital 2-1 win over West Ham.
The two, who had made headlines last week after having a bust-up at Craven Cottage, teamed up to help the Gunners to all three points.
Eddie Nketiah and Dani Ceballos combined for Arsenal’s winner against West HamCredit: AFP or licensors
Alexandre Lacazette had given Mikel Arteta’s side the lead with a powerful header before Michail Antonio pegged Arsenal back before half-time.
It was then up to Nketiah to emerge from the bench to grab the winner after tapping home Ceballos’ low cross late on.
SunSport reporter Joe Brophy has rated Arsenal’s players.
Bernd Leno – 6/10
Continued his encouraging return to the squad after enduring a stint on the sidelines with an injury.
Could do nothing about West Ham’s equaliser but had one second-half scare after crashing into Ceballos and spilling a cross.
Rob Holding – 5
The England defender’s performance against Fulham was enough to keep David Luiz on the bench following the Brazilian’s return from injury.
Yet Holding will now face a fight to retain his spot against Liverpool following a shaky showing tonight as he was run ragged by Antonio.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 6
Failed to match his stunning debut at Craven Cottage as the £27million signing faced two penalty shouts against him in the first-half – including one for handball that Victor Lindelof was penalised for against Crystal Palace.
Improved after the break and made a couple of key challenges and clearances as West Ham enjoyed a spell on top.
Sead Kolasinac – 4
Thrust into the starting line-up for potentially his last Arsenal game after Kieran Tierney picked up a hip injury in the warm-up.
But the Bayer Leverkusen target proved why he has been shown the Emirates exit door after he failed to stop Ryan Frederick’s cross that Antonio turned home.
Hector Bellerin – 6
Solid if uninspiring from the Spaniard .
Sead Kolasinac struggled in Kieran Tierney’s absenceCredit: PA:Press Association
Granit Xhaka – 5
Guilty of holding onto the ball for too long against a dogged West Ham side and his usual crisp passing was lacking.
Dani Ceballos – 6
Just about managed to answer Tim Sherwood’s criticism of his lack of creativity with a late assist for Nketiah’s winner.
Yet the cross to the man he pushed out at before the 3-0 win at Fulham did little to mask a return to his pre-lockdown form for Arsenal, as he largely unimpressed against the Hammers.
Bukayo Saka – 6
Arsenal’s new No7 couldn’t be faulted for his effort but his decision-making in the final third had been letting him down until late.
Saka than provided a bit of magic to spark the move that led to Ceballos threading in Nketiah for the winner.
Alexandre Lacazette bagged a half-century of goals for ArsenalCredit: AFP or licensors
Willian – 4
Capable of the sublime, as he proved last weekend, but Chelsea fans will know all too well that the Brazilian can be very Jekyll and Hyde.
Willian failed to influence proceedings on his Emirates bow as an Arsenal player and was often on the periphery before he was hooked on the hour.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 6
Celebrated finally signing his new long-term contract and proved once again why Arsenal were so desperate to tie down their captain.
Delightful cross to set up strike partner Lacazette for the opener but often frustrated at his role as provider in the second-half.
Alexandre Lacazette – 7
Continued his fine goal-scoring start to the season with his second successive strike – his 50th goal for Arsenal.
Subs
Nicolas Pepe (For Willian 64′) – 6
Arsenal’s record signing did little to show that he should be starting.
Eddie Nketiah ( For Lacazette 77′) – 7
Proved his value to Arteta with a striker’s finish after emerging from the bench.
David Luiz (For Saka 88′) – N/A
Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal are as big as Barcelona which helped convince Aubameyang to stay and sign new deal
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
