ARSENAL were well beaten 2-1 by Wolves at the Emirates on Sunday night.
Dani Ceballos was appalling in midfield while Granit Xhaka and Kieran Tierney were not far behind.
Dani Ceballos offered nothing as Arsenal lost 2-1 to Wolves at the EmiratesCredit: Reuters
Willian was one of few players who offered anything going forward for the GunnersCredit: AFP or licensors
Willian was one of few bright sparks as the Gunners stay 14th in the Premier League.
David Luiz and Raul Jimenez were involved in a sickening clash of heads after just five minutes which saw the Wolves striker given oxygen, put in the recovery position and taken to hospital.
Pedro Neto put the visitors one up on 27 minutes before Gabriel’s header pulled the North Londoners level just three minutes later.
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But sloppy defending saw Daniel Podence tuck home a rebound from Neto’s shot just three minutes before half-time to see Wolves go in 2-1 up at the break.
The Gunners huffed and puffed in the second-half but they did not have enough to break Wolves’ excellent defence down.
And here’s what SunSport’s William Pugh thought of the Gunners’ individual performances.
BERND LENO – 5
Dressed in Arsenal’s away shirt to avoid a kit clash.
Couldn’t do anything for Wolves’ first goal.
Saved Neto’s deflected shot which fell to Podence who scored from the rebound for the second.
Hard to slam him but the German would have hoped to do better.
Bernd Leno will be disappointed with his parry in the build up to Wolves’ second goalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
HECTOR BELLERIN – 4
Could have been blamed for Wolves’ first by harsh critics.
But definitely at fault for their second as he combined with Luiz to let Neto run and run all the way into the Gunners’ box before letting him shoot.
Not the worst on the park as he joined in with some attacks in the second-half but still nothing to be proud of.
Booked on 69 minutes for tugging Neto back.
DAVID LUIZ – 5 (subbed at half-time)
Looked jaded after the head injury early on.
Required a bandage on the wound that continued to pour blood until half-time.
Just watched Neto as he dribbled into Arsenal’s box in the build up to Podence’s goal.
Gets a pass given the traumatic nature of his 45 minutes.
David Luiz had a cut bandaged up after a nasty clash of heads with Raul JimenezCredit: AFP or licensors
The Wolves striker was taken to hospital after the incidentCredit: Reuters
GABRIEL – 6
Great leap to score his first goal at the Emirates.
But missed a last ditch challenge which would have stopped Podence scoring soon after. Not as culpable as Bellerin and Luiz.
Solid for the remainder but lucky to escape giving away a penalty when Traore went down over his trailing leg.
The Brazilian scored his first goal at the Emirates StadiumCredit: Reuters
And he was the best of a bad bunch of defendersCredit: Reuters
KIERAN TIERNEY – 4
Let Adama Traore get past him and cross for Wolves’ opener and was dominated by the Spaniard for the rest of the night.
Not the first and won’t be the last to do it but would have hoped to do better.
Looked wildly out of position at times as Wolves ran cantered forward with ease.
Narrowly escaped worst player tag with attacking endevour in the second-half. Not that it came to anything.
Booked late on for fouling Neto.
DANI CEBALLOS – 3
Embarrassing. Caught napping for Neto’s goal.
Ball watching as the first cross came in then flat footed and unaware as Neto nipped in from behind him to prod home.
Tasteless to go down holding his face after minimal contact at the end of the first-half after he had seen what happened to Jimenez.
Another toothless performance lacking impact at the base of the midfield alongside Xhaka. Literally offered nothing at all.
Him and Xhaka needed Thomas Partey to make them look anything like centre-midfielders.
Dani Ceballos was asleep as Neto nipped in behind him for the opening goalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Went down clutching his face at the end of the first-half after minimal contactCredit: PA:Press Association
GRANIT XHAKA – 4 (subbed 80 mins)
Ineffective in the middle of the park.
Sat back and let Wolves run through the middle far too often.
Also lost Dendoncker who won headers from crosses and set-pieces as a result.
Passing was uninspiring and was lucky Ceballos was next to him to take the biggest shambles award.
Toss of a coin for who was worse between him and his ‘midfield partner’.
WILLIAN – 7 (subbed 64 minutes)
Quick thinking and a delightful cross for Gabriel’s opener.
Took a quick one two from a corner and bent in an inch perfect cross onto the centre-back’s forehead.
One of few bright sparks before the break with his quality set-pieces and crosses.
Bizarrely subbed just past the hour mark.
Willian was oddly subbed when he was one of Arsenal’s few creative influencesCredit: Reuters
JOE WILLOCK – 5
Invisible.
May as well not have been on the pitch in the first half because he spent most of his time watching his team defend. Badly.
Involved a little more after the break as Arsenal huffed and puffed but too little too late.
BUKAYO SAKA – 5
As non-existent as Willock before the break.
Apart from when he shinned a good chance wide from ten yards out.
But livened up in the second-half as Arsenal looked slightly more threatening.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG – 4
Barely broke into a sprint once in the first half.
Shadow of his former self when his team really needed him.
Hard to shrug of suggestions he has taken it easy since signing his new mega-money £350,000-a-week contract in September.
Headed a good chance wide with ten minutes to go. Summed his night up.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang carried on his terrible run of formCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Subs
ROB HOLDING – 5 (replaced Luiz)
Not bad. Looked a little erratic at first but settled into the half as his side did most of the attacking.
Booked late on for hauling Traore down.
REISS NELSON – 5 (replaced Willian)
Livelier than some of his midfield counterparts. But couldn’t break through Wolves’ resolute defence.
ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE – 5 (replaced Xhaka)
Not enough time to make an impact.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
