Wilshere dazzles as Arsenal beat BATE
A heavily rotated Arsenal side racked up a 4-2 win against BATE Borisov to keep Arsenal on course to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Two strikes from Theo Walcott, Rob Holding's first Arsenal goal and a penalty from Olivier Giroud gave Arsenal the victory, although they did not have it all their own way. In the first half, Arsenal were an irrepressible attacking force. However, they faded somewhat in the second half, perhaps due to an understandable degree of complacency creeping in.
Positives
The major positive has to be the performance of Jack Wilshere, who was Arsenal's outstanding player on the night. Playing higher up the field in the "Mesut Ozil role", he bewitched the BATE defence with a brilliant display.
This game also provided some vital experience for several young Arsenal players. Arsene Wenger has enormous faith in the likes of Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock, and they came through this test with plenty of credit.
Negatives
On a night of few complaints for Arsenal, Wenger will have been disappointed to concede a couple of sloppy goals. The likes of Mohamed Elneny and David Ospina will feel they might have done more to help preserve the clean sheet. Other than that, this could not have gone much better for the Gunners.
Manager rating out of 10
7 -- What a relief it must have been for Wenger to see his team come through this fixture so easily. With a run of three matches in seven days, the Arsenal boss made nine changes to the side that beat West Brom on Monday. His faith in his squad depth was repaid in style, as Arsenal picked up a valuable three points in their bid to escape their Europa League group. Presumably once they reach the knockout phase, more emphasis will be placed on this competition.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK David Ospina, 5 -- The Colombian goalkeeper might have done better with both BATE's goals. He can look assured for long periods of the game before committing costly errors. On this evidence, Petr Cech's place as Arsenal's No. 1 isn't exactly under threat.
DF Rob Holding, 6 -- Young centre-half Holding's confidence has been a little shaky of late, so he'll have been delighted with the boost of his first Arsenal goal. He'll have been less pleased with the costly slip before BATE's second goal. With Shkodran Mustafi and Nacho Monreal seemingly ahead of him in the battle for first-team places, the Europa League could be vital in Holding's continuing development.
DF Per Mertesacker, 6 -- In an unfamiliar-looking Arsenal side, a bit of experience and leadership comes in very useful. Mertesacker's steady presence at the heart of the defence helped steer the team through a nervy finish.
DF Shkodran Mustafi, 6 -- One of only two players asked to play in this game after starting against West Brom on Monday, Mustafi played as the right-sided centre-half. Perhaps that would make a more suitable starting position for him than his customary role in the middle of the back three, where he can be a liability.
Jack Wilshere David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
MF Reiss Nelson, 7 -- Neither Ainsley Maitland-Niles nor Nelson could be classed as wing-backs. However, Nelson's sheer ability and confidence enabled him to shine in the role. He has a long way to go yet, but it's easy to understand why the Arsenal fans are so excited about his potential.
MF Joe Willock, 7 -- Unlike many other players who've emerged from the Arsenal academy, Willock is an impressively powerful player. Although only 18, he already seems athletic enough to cope with the hurly-burly of senior football. He's a tidy player too, and showed his toughness when he recovered from a first-half elbow to the face.
MF Mohamed Elneny, 6 -- Back in preseason, Wenger experimented with fielding Elneny as a third centre-back. However, he ended up discarding the experiment. Perhaps we saw why on Thursday, as the Egyptian was beaten easily in the air for BATE's first-half consolation. On the ball, he was far better, distributing efficiently from the base of the Arsenal midfield.
MF Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 6 -- The academy product is not a natural left-wing-back, but has the speed and stamina to do a decent enough job on that flank. Irrespective of his starting position, he'll be grateful for some more first-team minutes.
FW Theo Walcott, 7 -- What a curious player Walcott is. He's not really a winger or a striker, yet he remains an effective poacher. Walcott is frequently criticised by the Arsenal fans, but you can't argue with his stats this season: he has started just three games, but has already scored as many goals. Had he been sharper on the night, he might well have had a couple more.
FW Jack Wilshere, 8 -- Although Wilshere wears the No. 10 on his back, he doesn't often get the opportunity to play in that advanced role for Arsenal. This was an impressive demonstration of what he's capable of in that spot. The standard of competition was obviously lower than he'll encounter in the Premier League, but that doesn't devalue the weight of his pass or the precision of his touch.
FW Olivier Giroud, 6 -- The French international will remember this as the night when he became an Arsenal centurion. One hundred goals in 238 games is a very decent record, and it couldn't have come in more straightforward fashion. The former Montpellier man stroked home a penalty to take him to a huge personal milestone.
Substitutes
MF Marcus McGuane, NR -- Came on for Nelson to make his Arsenal debut.
FW Eddie Nketiah, NR -- Replaced Willock but couldn't get into the game.
Source: espn.co.uk
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