Arsenal 4 v 0 Coventry City: Player Ratings.

Match Report – Player Ratings – Infographic – Video Highlights

Arsenal vs Coventry
The FA Cup
Emirates Stadium
Kick off: January 24, 2014 7:45 PM GMT

Lukasz Fabianski | 6.5: The Pole put in a good shift for the Gunners making the right moves when necessary, including great saves to deny Clarke and Baker. Some mis-controlled back-passes and poor distribution did put a damper on what was a solid performance however.

Carl Jenkinson | 7.0: Is always full of running and wasn’t afraid to take on his opposite number down the flank. Put in some great crosses, however they were never capitalised on by Bendtner, who was disappointingly quite static today.

Per Mertesacker | 7.5: Not too much to do for the BFG today, but performed well when he was needed. Was unusually turned inside-out by Baker early in the first half, but made up for that grabbing the assist for Podolski’s second

Laurent Koscielny | 7.5: Was generally alert when Coventry attempted to use their pace in behind the defence and also made a number of good interceptions to break down attacks. Assured performance.

Kieran Gibbs | 7.0: Gibbs attacking play, as usual, was excellent and deservedly got an assist late in the match. However, he was caught out quite a few times on defence, which illustrates he eagerness to get forward at every opportunity.

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | 6.0: The Englishman will be happy to get a good chunk of game-time under his belt after a lengthy lay-off. Was a bit of a mixed bag in midfield however and did lose possession in a dangerous area to give Coventry a good chance, but the minutes will no doubt improve his sharpness.

Jack Wilshere | 6.5: With no Flamini or Arteta, at times the Englishman did leave defence somewhat exposed due to his eagerness to join the attack, particularly in the second half. In general he was tidy in possession however and did have good distribution.

Mesut Özil| 8.0: This guy is a magician with the ball. Every time he received the ball he rarely, if ever, lost possession. Created a goal on a platter for Podolski and almost got on the score-sheet himself after rattling the wood-work. Faded in and out of the games at times however.

Serge Gnabry | 7.0: Was tidy in possession and looked comfortable exchanging passes with midfield and defence, but didn’t really impose himself on the match. Got into a couple goal-scoring positions, but couldn’t capitalise.

Lukas Podolski | 7.5: (MotM) Wenger has been saying that the German is one of the best finishers in the team and he showed that today with a well taken brace. For his first he rounded the keeper and slotted from a tight angle and for the second he got a typical poachers goal at the back-post. Could have gotten a hat-trick, but never-the-less his directness made him Arsenal’s most potent attacking threat.

Nicklas Bendtner | 4.5: I thought it was at times lazy from the big Dane. There were a number of good crosses put in for him, but he was never willing to gamble and stayed static. Had a few good opportunities in front of goal as well, but unfortunately scuffed his shots.

Substitutes:

Gedion Zelalem | 6.5: The youngster will have been happy to get some minutes under his belt and didn’t look overawed by the occasion. A tidy cameo.

Santi Cazorla | 8.0: While not on the pitch long, he made a great impact. Put the through ball in for Gibbs, which lead to Giroud’s goal and finished off the tie with a well taken goal very late in the match.

Olivier Giroud | 7.0: The Frenchman got a small cameo towards the latter stages of the match and managed to get on the score-sheet with a well-taken goal.