Player ratings and round-up as Arsenal cruise to 2-0 win over Brighton

Sport360 staff

18:51 01/10/2017

Arsene Wenger celebrated his 21st anniversary as Arsenal manager with a 2-0 win over Brighton and a brilliant team goal scored by Alex Iwobi.

Goals like Iwobi’s have become synonymous with Arsenal since Wenger took the reins on October 1, 1996 and this was another gem, finished off after a delicate back-heel from Alexis Sanchez.

Nacho Monreal had earlier put the Gunners in front at Emirates Stadium as Wenger’s men made it seven matches unbeaten in all competitions and moved up to fifth in the Premier League table.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

STAR MAN

Alexis Sanchez. After an extremely quiet opening period, the Chile forward grew into the game and caused the Seagulls all sorts of second-half problems. He superbly set up the second for Iwobi, was denied a goal by a fine save from Albion goalkeeper Mat Ryan, and came close to a second assist when he later slipped in Alexandre Lacazette.

Sanchez was the driving force behind Arsenal’s good play on Sunday.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Arsenal eventually took control of the contest when Nigeria international Iwobi doubled their advantage by finishing confidently following a flowing 56th-minute move. France forward Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey were both involved before Alexis Sanchez’s splendid back-heel allowed midfielder Iwobi to power home past Ryan.

STAT ATTACK

Arsenal’s opener was Monreal’s first Premier League goal in more than four-and-a-half years. The Spanish defender last found the back of net in the league in a 2-0 Gunners victory at Swansea on March 16, 2013.

PLAYER RATINGS

ARSENAL

Petr Cech: 6 (out of 10)
Hector Bellerin: 6
Rob Holding: 6
Shkodran Mustafi: 6
Nacho Monreal: 7
Sead Kolasinac: 6
Aaron Ramsey: 7
Granit Xhaka: 6
Alex Iwobi: 7
Alexis Sanchez: 8
Alexandre Lacazette: 7

Substitutes

Olivier Giroud (on for Lacazette, 71): 6
Theo Walcott (on for Iwobi, 71): 5
Mohamed Elneny (on for Xhaka, 83): 5

Nacho Monreal scored his first league goal in four-and-a-half years.

BRIGHTON

Mat Ryan: 7
Bruno: 6
Lewis Dunk: 6
Shane Duffy: 5
Gaetan Bong: 5
Solly March: 7
Dale Stephens: 6
Davy Propper: 6
Pascal Gross: 6
Jose Izquierdo: 5
Izzy Brown: 6

Substitutes

Ezequiel Schelotto (on for March, 72): 5
Anthony Knockaert (on for Izquierdo, 76): 6
Glenn Murray (on for Brown, 76): 6

Brighton struggled to stop Arsenal’s free-flowing attack.