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Home   >   Match   >   [Ratings & Goals] Arsenal 4-1 Molde: Willock & Pepe impress for Gunners

[Ratings & Goals] Arsenal 4-1 Molde: Willock & Pepe impress for Gunners

By on November 5, 2020

nicolas pepe arsenal

Arsenal came from behind to beat Molde 4-1 at the Emirates on Thursday night to take control of Europa League Group B.

It was a slow start from Arsenal and we fell behind midway through the first half when the defence gave Martin Ellingsen too much time and he beat Bernd Leno with a wonderful long-range shot to give the visitors a shock lead.

Arsenal stepped things up and should have had an equaliser when Eddie Nketiah tapped home from a Nicolas Pepe cross but the goal was wrongly ruled out for an offside on Joe Willock.

However, just minutes later we did get the equaliser as Kristoffer Haugen put through his own net under pressure from Willock following a quick counter-attack from Arsenal to make it 1-1 on the stroke of half-time.

Arsenal put their foot down in the second half and we took the lead in the 62nd minute thanks to another own goal. This time it was Sheriff Sinyan who put the ball into his own net after good work from Willock.

We made it 3-1 seven minutes later when Nicolas Pepe slotted home a nice finish and Willock added a late fourth to secure our third consecutive win which sees Arsenal move three points clear in Group B.

Here are my ratings:

Leno  5.5/10 | Surprised to see him start. Will be disappointed to have been beaten by Ellingsen from 25 yards for the Molde goal. Should have done better to keep it out. Otherwise not a lot to do.

Maitland-Niles  6/10 | A solid and unspectacular display. Didn’t make an mistakes at the back but wasn’t a threat going forward.

Mustafi  5/10 | Caught out a few times and looked suspect at the back. Would have been punished against better opposition.

Luiz  6/10 | Nice to have him back and put-in a decent performance alongside Mustafi. Brought the ball out from defence – although he could have closed Ellingsen down quicker for their goal.

Kolasinac  5.5/10 | Missed an open goal. It was on his wrong foot so we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

joe willock arsenal

Ceballos  6/10 | Played a few nice passes and his work rate kept Molde on their toes. Does his bit defensively but would just like to see more of him pushing forward at times.

Xhaka  6/10 | Showed his versatility as he played in several positions, including left side of a back three and left-back. Solid enough but clearly most comfortable in midfield.

Willock  8/10 | Another terrific all-round performance. Played his part in both own goals and got a well-deserved goal for himself late on. His runs into the box give Arsenal a different dimension and it’s good to see him taking is chances in Europe.

Pepe  7.5/10 | Nice finish to make it 3-1 and lovely ball set-up Willock for the fourth. Should have had another assist in the first half when Nketiah’s goal was wrongly ruled out. Good end product but still frustrates at times with poor touches and sloppy passes.

Nketiah  6.5/10 | Unlucky to see a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside in the first half. Had another chalked off, this time correctly, after the break. Worked hard and got into some good positions but just wasn’t his night.

Willian  6/10 | Not at his best once again. Put a few decent crosses in but overall his delivery wasn’t great. Unfortunately for the Brazilian Arsenal looked a lot more dangerous when he was replaced by Saka.

Subs:

Saka  [6], Cedric [6], Elneny [N/A], Tierney [N/A]

Watch the goals here: