Flop: Eddie Howe
In contrast to his managerial counterpart, Eddie Howe got his tactical decisions all wrong and was found out thanks to two Arsenal goals within the first half-hour. Even after overloading the midfield and sitting deep didn’t work the first time, Howe took too long to respond and only tweaked the system after going two down.
Although he was forced to pick from an increasingly injury-hit squad, the decision to replace both Phillip Billing and Jefferson Lerma in the middle of the park allowed Arsenal too much freedom in midfield, while Callum Wilson was brought on far too late to make any meaningful impact.
Hit: Gabriel Martinelli
Although his arrival at Arsenal over the summer might have gone somewhat under the radar amidst the moves for Nicolas Pepe and Dani Ceballos, Gabriel Martinelli has been making waves with his performances both in England and in Europe this season.
The 18-year-old further embellished his burgeoning reputation with a sparkling display that saw him claim yet another assist as he teed up Saka for the opener. Arsenal might have their fair share of problems, but Martinelli looks destined to be a star for years to come.