Let’s take a look at the Player Ratings from the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at the King Power Stadium.
Gabriel Magalhaes and Emile Smith Rowe were on target to seal Arsenal a 2-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday.
Despite an eight-match unbeaten run, there was still an air of uncertainty about Arsenal. True, the Gunners had won six of those games. But only one of them came against a genuine top-six contender in Tottenham at home. The trip to the King Power, therefore, was a real test. Had progress been made? Or was it all false hope? It proved to be the former.
Mikel Arteta’s side took the initiative early on and rocked Leicester with their intensity. The visitors needed only five minutes to stamp their authority when Gabriel headed home Bukayo Saka’s corner.
Smith Rowe then bounced on a loose ball just 13 minutes later to blast it past Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel. The strike was the Englishman’s second goal in as many league games.
2-0 up, with not even 20 minutes into the game, the Gunners were on fire.
4 – Emile Smith Rowe has scored his fourth goal of the season in all competitions – all of which have come in his last seven appearances – and the same number as he managed in 33 games last season. Strides. pic.twitter.com/ZXL8gR8rJo
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 30, 2021
Ramsdale to the rescue again
Arsenal’s decision to fork out €28 million to sign Aaron Ramsdale from the relegated Sheffield United raised quite a few eyebrows in the summer, especially for a backup goalkeeper.
But to his credit, Ramsdale has performed above expectations. Not only has the 23-year-old already displaced Bernd Leno as the No.1, but his promotion has coincided with an upturn in results. In fact, Arsenal are yet to lose in any of his eight appearances.
The former Bournemouth and Wimbledon star made sure to extend his unbeaten start with a brilliant double save from James Maddison and Jonny Evans just before the interval.
Leicester, who have frequently scored a glut of goals this season to salvage points, had no answer. Ramsdale stopped a powerful Ademola Lookman drive in the second half and thwarted another effort from Harvey Barnes.
Overall, it was a very disciplined performance from Arsenal and a deserved three points. The Gunners took an early lead and never waivered. On the rare occasion that Leicester got a sniff of goal, Ramsdale was more than up for the challenge.
Arteta’s side have now moved up to fifth place – temporarily at least – in the Premier League table, while Leicester have slipped down to 10th for now.
Aaron Ramsdale.
Worth. Every. Penny. 👏💰 pic.twitter.com/7BehhNPyS0
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 30, 2021
Player ratings
Leicester City: Schmeichel (7); Amartey (5), Evans (6), Soyuncu (6); Castagne (7), Tielemans (8), Soumare (6), Thomas (6); Maddison (7); Iheanacho (6), Vardy (6).
Bench: Lookman (7), Daka (7), Barnes (7).
Arsenal: Ramsdale (9); Tomiyasu (7), White (7), Gabriel (8), Tavares (7); Saka (7), Partey (7), Lokonga (7), Smith Rowe (8); Lacazette (6); Aubameyang (7).
Bench: Pepe (6), Odegaard (7), Kolasinac (N/A).
Feel free to make your pick on each player’s ratings and performances using the widget below.
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