Player Ratings: Blackburn vs Arsenal

Match Result:

Blackburn Rovers come back from 2-1 down to surprise Arsenal 4-3 on a rainy day at Ewood Park.

Arsenal outplayed Blackburn, but Lady Luck was on Kean's side.

Ratings:

Arsenal

Szczesny (5) – Couldn’t be blamed for any of the goals – not a bad display overall, was caught on one or two occasions but he’s still developing.

Bacary Sagna (6) - Consistent performance, had to go off due to an injury scare – After his departure, Hoilett looked more dangerous.

Per Mertesacker (5) – Decent performance, had a chance to level late on with a header.

Koscielny (5.5) – Was commanding on occasions, couldn’t be blamed for the own goal as the ball came towards him rapidly.

Andre Santos (5) - Played Yakubu onside for the first goal, had some good exchanges in passing but looked tired late on – Still, it’s his first start as an Arsenal player.

Alex Song (7) - Was Arsenal’s best player in the first half, commanded the midfield – once again, couldn’t be blamed for the own goal as it all happened in a flash.

Mikel Arteta (6.5) – Scored on his away debut with a thunderous shot at the top center, stole the ball from Blackburn’s midfielders – hardly put a foot wrong.

Aaron Ramsey (7) – Played really well throughout the game, had a consistent performance.

Gervinho (7) - Scored his first goal for the club, always looked dangerous with the ball, had a good shot save and squandered a chance to let RvP make the scoreline 3-1.

Robin van Persie (5.5) – Absent throughout the first half – Had chances late on for consolations but for Paul Robinson.

Andrey Arshavin (5.5) - Looks back to his old self, however couldn’t influence the game.

Subs

Theo Walcott 6 – Looked lively, what Arsenal needed – an impact sub, provided some good drilled crosses.

Johan Djourou 4 – Came on for Sagna, got a yellow card within an instant, and was troubled throughout by Hoilett.

Marouane Chamakh 6 – Scored a consolation, had a chance to score another late on to equalize, but it wasn’t to be.

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Robinson (6) - Denied Arsenal on a number of occasions – couldn’t be blamed for the goals as he was exposed by his defense.

Salgado (4) – In whatever amount of time he was on, he was troubled and couldn’t handle Arsenal’s attacking threat. Subbed off due to an injury scare.

Christopher Samba (6.5) – Looked solid, was an attacking threat as well on occasions.

Scott Dann (6) - Good game from the former Arsenal target.

Gael Givet (5.5) - Caught out for the first two goals, but looked better on the ball and defended well in the second half.

Lowe (4.5) – Lost possession cheaply, didn’t look so confident, but he is a youngster after all.

N’Zonzi (5.5) – Commanded the midfield in the second half after losing the ball many times in the first – looked a threat too, attacking wise.

Rochina (6) - After an absent first half performance, he looked more confident, had some good passing here and there, and the former Barcelona player provided the cross for the Song own goal.

Hoilett (8) - Best player on the pitch – provided so many attacking threats with his pace, trickery and troubled Djourou constantly.

Formica (6) - Made some good runs, unlucky not to have scored from a one on one with Szczesny.

Yakubu (8) - Scored the equalizer with a brilliant finish and scored his second goal to put Arsenal 3-2 behind, though it was an offside goal. Nonetheless, he showed experience and calmness to slow down the game and trouble Arsenal.

Subs

Petrovic 5 - Came on for Salgado, put in a decent performance.

Olsson 6.5 – Made some threatening runs, troubling Djourou and allowed Hoilett more space to run at the Arsenal defense – provided the cross that Koscielny put in the back of his net.

Vuk?evi? 5 - Showed some good feet, but other than that, had little time to make an impact.