Arsenal ratings: Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli shine in Watford thriller as kids prove future is bright for Gunners

ARSENAL’S youngsters shone yet again as Mikel Arteta’s side came out on top in a 3-2 thriller at Vicarage Road.

A goal apiece from Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli helped the Gunners to what turned out to be an unnecessarily nervy win.

Saka found the back of the net with a well-placed finish from the edge of the boxCredit: Reuters

Martinelli almost broke the net when he made it 3-1Credit: AFP

All three goalscorers were under the age of 23 as Arteta and Co leapfrogged Manchester United into fourth place in the Premier League table.

The Gunners were pegged back after Cucho Hernandez’s stunning goal made it 1-1 following Odegaard’s opener, but normal service was resumed through Saka and Martinelli.

Moussa Sissoko’s goal on 88 minutes took some gloss off the win but regardless of the score it’s a valuable three points for Arteta in the race for Champions League football.

Here’s how SunSport’s Giacomo Pisa rated and slated the Gunners’ performances.

Aaron Ramsdale – 7

Down smartly to deny Dennis at 1-1 and commanded his area well again.

He couldn’t do much about Hernandez’s stunning bicycle kick or Sissoko’s close range effort, but apart from that the £30million summer signing was solid again.

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BETTING SPECIAL – GET CITY AT 25/1 OR UNITED AT 100/1

Cedric Soares – 6

While relegation threatened Watford aren’t exactly the toughest of opposition, Cedric continued to impress in the absence of Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Stepping in at right-back for the Japanese international was always going to be difficult, but in his third consecutive start Cedric put in another good shift.

Ben White – 5

Caught out early on with Dennis putting the ball in the back of the net 17 seconds into the game.

Fortunately for White and Arsenal it was ruled out for offside.

Was also beaten too easily for Sissoko’s goal late on, which made for a nervy final few minutes.

Gabriel Magalhaes – 6

Stepped out of defence well to fire balls into the feet of Lacazette, Martinelli and Saka.

Defensively solid again, as his budding partnership with White continues to blossom.

Kieran Tierney – 6

Took the captain’s armband for the final 10 minutes when Lacazette was replaced, and again showed his captain material today.

One of the most consistent performers in the Arsenal team every week, Tierney was no different again today.

Granit Xhaka – 5

Didn’t track Sissoko for Watford’s second goal which opened the door for a potential comeback.

The Swiss midfielder was good enough on the ball but Arteta will not be happy with the slack marking late on.

Thomas Partey – 6

Won his midfield battles well and was good without being spectacular.

A solid enough performance from the Ghanaian international.

Martin Odegaard – 8

Linked up delightfully with Saka for his goal, which he finished delightfully past Ben Foster.

A constant thorn in the side of the Hornets, Odegaard seems to get better every time he plays.

Odegaard opened the scoring for ArsenalCredit: Reuters

Gabriel Martinelli – 8

The 20-year-old gave Kiko Femenia the run around all afternoon with his pace and trickery.

A glorious finish into the top corner from the edge of the area rounded off another good day’s work for Martinelli.

Was taken off on 73 minutes with the damage already done, with Arteta perhaps having one eye on the upcoming clashes with Leicester and Liverpool.

Bukayo Saka – 9

A goal and an assist for the Arsenal youngster in what was another scintillating display.

Showed his awareness to slide Odegaard in for the opener, before displaying his devastating finishing when lashing past Foster.

Saka curled a delicious strike past the helpless Ben FosterCredit: Reuters

Alexandre Lacazette – 8

Now the elder statesman of the Arsenal team, Lacazette was more than happy to let the young guns around him do their thing.

He held the ball up well and dictated the play, feeding the likes of Martinelli, Saka and Odegaard around him.

Two assists on the day, and even tracked back to pinch the ball off Watford’s midfielders on numerous occasions.

SUBS

Nicolas Pepe (on for Martinelli, 73 mins) – 5

Almost added a fourth when cutting in from the right and curling a dangerous effort at goal.

Threatened when he came on, but didn’t get long enough to make a real impact.

Eddie Nketiah (on for Lacazette, 80 mins) – N/A

Rob Holding (on for Odegaard, 90 mins) – N/A

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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk