Arsenal player ratings: Trossard outshines new team-mates against Man City but Holding is hooked during Haaland battle
MANCHESTER CITY got one over on their Premier League title challengers Arsenal by dumping them out of the FA Cup.
Arsenal may hold a five-point advantage and a game in hand in the league, but it was City whose FA Cup run continues thanks to a Nathan Ake winner.
On his full debut, Leandro Trossard outshone his team-mates, giving Rico Lewis a torrid time in the first half.
He created Takehiro Tomiyasu’s early shot on goal and even had a pop himself, but his effort was well saved by Stefan Ortega.
Rob Holding, meanwhile, had an evening to forget as he went head-on with goal machine Erling Haaland.
City’s tactic to isolate Holding with Haaland worked with the defender getting booked just before half-time before being subbed.
Pep Guardiola will be hoping Friday’s defeat will unnerve Prem table-toppers Arsenal in the second half of the season.
Here’s how SunSport’s Martin Blackburn rated the Gunners.
Matt Turner – 6
Only his sixth start for Arsenal.
Was out well to deny Haaland with his feet early on and made a good second half stop from De Bruyne.
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Picked up a second half shoulder injury not long before he was beaten by Ake’s shot.
Takehiro Tomiyasu – 6
Early shot from edge of box tipped away by Ortega.
Cleaned up Haaland’s overhead kick and was deputising well – but then allowed Grealish to wriggle away from him to create the opening goal.
Rob Holding – 5
A rare start with Saliba dropping down to the bench and what a test to be up against Haaland.
Booked for pulling back the Norwegian and was in danger of getting a red so hooked at the break.
Gabriel – 7
Beaten to a loose ball by Haaland and relieved the Norwegian’s radar was off for once and looked more comfortable with Saliba alongside him.
Would have been happy to help keep Haaland relatively quiet.
Kieran Tierney – 6
Given the nod ahead of former City man ZInchenko – and did well to keep the in-form Mahrez under wraps.
Careless clearance almost put his team in trouble and replaced by Zinchenko after the opening goal.
Fabio Vieira – 7
Stepped in so Odegaard could have a rest.
Fluffed a second half volley when he had more time than he realised shortly before City took the lead.
Lovely cross almost created an equaliser for Nketiah.
Thomas Partey – 7
Great challenge on De Bruyne on edge of the box late in first half and helped the Gunners control City in the opening 45 minutes.
Did not reappear after the break – leaving the visiting fans praying he is not injured as he was missed.
Granit Xhaka – 7
Sent off last time he played here 18 months ago but is a different player these days and showed some real authority in the first half.
Found it more difficult after Partey had gone off at the break as City took command in the middle.
Bukayo Saka – 5
England ace was up against a makeshift full-back in Ake but got little change out of the Dutch centre-back.
Guardiola is a big admirer but he had a frustrating night before being replaced by Odegaard as Arteta tried to salvage the game late on.
Eddie Nketiah – 6
The hero against United on Sunday had a chance to repeat the trick but volleyed a decent chance wide on the half hour.
So close to getting on the end of Vieira’s cross to level but was denied by Laporte’s last ditch tackle.
Leandro Trossard – 8
Very encouraging full debut.
Some nice work to set up Tomiyasu for early strike at goal.
Had a shot of his own that was well saved by Ortega and gave young Lewis a torrid first half.
Surprisingly subbed when Arsenal needed an equaliser.
Subs
William Saliba (for Holding, 45 min) – 6
Could have made himself bigger for the City goal.
Albert Sambi Lokonga (for Partey, 45 min) – 5
Came on for Partey at half-time but did not have the same impact.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Tierney, 65 min) – 6
Replaced Tierney on 65 minutes and got a warm welcome back to his old club.
Gabriel Martinelli (for Trossard, 66 min) – 7
On for Trossard midway through the second half and also looked lively denied an equaliser by Ortega late on.
Martin Odegaard (for Saka, 74 min) – 6
Thrown on in place of Saka in the 74th minute but for once he could not find the answer.
