Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

Arsenal player ratings vs Chelsea: Martin Odegaard struggles but Declan Rice changes the game

Arsenal scored twice in the final 20 minutes as they came from behind to grab a point against Chelsea.

The Gunners had looked on course to lose their first Premier League game of the season, but they rallied late on.

Chelsea had been 2-0 up after Cole Palmer scored a penalty and Mykhailo Mudryk's cross flew into the bottom corner.

Arsenal, however, pulled when back through Declan Rice after Roberto Sanchez gifted him the ball. And then Leandro Trossard finished well at the back post from a Bukayo Saka cross.

Simon Collings was at Stamford Bridge to see Arsenal in action...

David Raya 5

Caught out by Mudryk's freak cross for Chelsea's second goal. Almost caught out playing out from the back soon after that too.

Ben White 4

Had one of his worst games for a while and, like many, was too loose in possession. Gave the ball away for Chelsea's second goal.

William Saliba 5

Gave away a penalty for a handball from Mudryk's header. Struggled to deal with the movement of Palmer.

Gabriel 6

Like Saliba he struggled to deal with the moment of Palmer. Made a great tackle on Sterling to stop a certain goal in the second-half.

Oleksandr Zinchenko 5

Unusually sloppy on the ball early on and then was booked for a cheap foul on Mudryk. Taken off at half-time in place of Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Martin Odegaard 4

Difficult to remember a game when he struggled this much. Was off the pace and could not get into the match.

Jorginho 4

A poor performance from the Italian as he returned to his old club. Could not give Arsenal the controlled they wanted as Conor Gallagher hassled him non-stop.

Declan Rice 7 | Star player

Like all of the Arsenal team, he was way off the pace in the first-half. Much better after the break and took his goal well.

Rice grabbed the game for Arsenal (Reuters)

Bukayo Saka 7

Had a real battle with Marc Cucurella, especially during the first-half. Was not in the game in the opening 45 minutes, but setup the equaliser with a great cross.

Gabriel Jesus 5

Took one shot that almost went out for a throw-in during the first-half. Summed up his, and Arsenal's, performance.

Gabriel Martinelli 6

One of Arsenal's better players when they went 2-0 down. Kept on going and got some joy against Malo Gusto at times.

Substitutions

Takehiro Tomiyasu (Zinchenko 45') 7

One of Arsenal's best players in the second-half. Dealt well with Sterling and linked up with Martinelli.

Eddie Nketiah (Jesus 68') 6

Came on and gave Arsenal bags of energy up top. Almost scored a winner late on when put through.

Emile Smith Rowe (Jorginho 68') 6

Hasn't had many minutes this season, but did okay here as he came on in midfield.

Kai Havertz (Odegaard 78') 6

Will have been disappointed not to start as he returned to his old club, but looked neat and tidy off the bench.

Leandro Trossard (Martinelli 78') 7

Came off the bench and grabbed Arsenal an equaliser with a brilliant finish at the back-post.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.