Arsenal Player Ratings v Wigan Athletic
penalties to reach the FA Cup final after a
1-1 draw in regular time. Read Gunners
player ratings here.
MANAGER :
Arsene Wenger: 6/10
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made a big
gamble at the beginning of the game,
selecting the inexperienced Yaya Sanogo up
front, and gambling on the fitness of Aaron
Ramsey.
Neither exactly paid off, even if both were
industrious, but it was interesting to see that
Wenger switched to 4-4-2 when he brought
on Olivier Giroud for Lukas Podolski, as he
rarely deviates from his favoured 4-2-3-1
formation.
PLAYERS:
Lukasz Fabianksi: 8/10
Lukasz Fabianski got a hand to Jordi
Gomez's penalty, but couldn't keep it out.
Hardly put a foot wrong otherwise, and is
perhaps the very best backup goalkeeper in
the Premier League.
Unfortunately for the Gunners given his
penalty shootout heroics, he looks set to
leave Emirates Stadium this summer.
Bacary Sagna: 7/10
Bacary Sagna did his usual job of getting up
and down the touchline, defending when he
had to and attacking when he could. It was
not the Frenchman letting down the side.
Per Mertesacker: 6/10
For such an assured defender, Per
Mertesacker made an atrocious error of
judgement with his challenge on Callum
McManaman, putting Arsenal in a position
they should never have been in on paper.
However, his goal brought back the Gunners
into the game.
Thomas Vermaelen: 4/10
Thomas Vermaelen remains such a clear
weak link in the Arsenal back four that even
Sky Bet Championship sides can target him
successfully.
Callum McManaman beat both Vermaelen
and Monreal with skill and pace on numerous
occasions far too easily.
Nacho Monreal: 4/10
Last season Nacho Monreal was hailed as
arguably the best backup left back in the
world. This term he has gone completely off
the boil, and it was almost a blessing in
disguise when he went off injured. Kieran
Gibbs offered far more in both defence and
attack.
Mikel Arteta: 3/10
Mikel Arteta's legs have gone. Like the
criticism aimed at Michael Carrick in the
latter stages of his career, the Spaniard
passed the ball from side without much
ambition or end product.
Still, he takes a mean penalty.
Aaron Ramsey: 6/10
Aaron Ramsey is clearly not fully fit or match
sharp just yet, but still looked one of the
more industrious Arsenal players, showing
tidy footwork and clever play.
Understandably tired in the second period,
and was out on his feet in extra time and had
to be replaced by Kim Kallstrom.
Lukas Podolski: 3/10
Lukas Podolski showed occasional glimpses
of skill, dashing down the touchline to fire in
a couple of low crosses, but contributed to
the Gunners' appalling weakness on their left
flank with a poor defensive display.
The German was taken off early in the second
half, which did not go down well with the
Arsenal support, who knew that he was
capable of producing moments of magic, but
Arsene Wenger knew he had to stem the tide.
Santi Cazorla: 6/10
Santi Cazorla made a couple of nice touches,
but despite his industrious play, the
Spaniard was too often closed down and
eased off the ball by Wigan Athletic players.
Cazorla's delivery from set pieces was rarely
up to scratch either, but he scored the
winning penalty.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 7/10
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the one
starting Arsenal player who ran at the Wigan
defence in an attempt to make things
happen, and his pace and skill looked like it
would make a difference.
In the end, it was a mishit shot from the
England man that Per Mertesacker headed in
to force extra time, and the 20 year-old also
hit the bar with a thunderous effort in extra
time.
Cramped up late on and may be a doubt to
face West Ham United on Tuesday.
Yaya Sanogo: 3/10
It's hard to blame Yaya Sanogo for not being
the requisite standard to play for Arsenal, but
the Frenchman was bought by Arsene
Wenger and thrown in at the deep end. While
he had a couple of decent shots on goal,
besides one effort on target in the first half,
every header he attempted was far off target.
The trouble for both Sanogo and Arsenal is
that there are a number of other strikers
around Europe younger than him who have
already progressed further, and it might be
best for all parties if they parted ways sooner
rather than later.
It's a tough lesson to learn, but although
Sanogo tried extremely hard, and was
always willing to be played the ball, it's hard
to imagine the 21 year-old ever becoming a
regular Arsenal centre forward.
SUBSTITUTES :
Kieran Gibbs: 8/10
Kieran Gibbs was excellent in defence,
drastically limiting Wigan Athletic's threat
down their right hand side with intelligent
play.
He also got forward wonderfully well, giving
Arsenal an option on the overlap with his
pace, got into the box to get a header on
target which was brilliantly saved by Scott
Carson, and fired in a number of dangerous
crosses.
Olivier Giroud: 7/10
Olivier Giroud might be fatigued due to his
exertions throughout the Premier League
season, but had he been started with Yaya
Sanogo instead the impact substitute,
Arsenal might have avoided extra time.
The more senior Frenchman is at present a
far superior striker, and his hold up play and
success in aerial duels enabled the Gunners
to play further up the pitch.
Took an excellent penalty.
Kim Kallstrom: 6/10
Hardly had much time to make an impact,
but scored his penalty well.
Adam Davies 10 Hours Ago
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