TT's player ratings: Arsenal 5 Tottenham 2

17 November 2012 15:26
TEAMtalk rates the Arsenal and Tottenham players after their thrilling North London derby at the Emirates in Saturday's early kick-off. Arsenal ratings WOJCIECH SZCZESNY: Little to do on his return from two months out injured and reasonably helpless with both goals. 5/10. BACARY SAGNA: Emmanuel Adebayor's sending off gave him one of his easiest ever derbies. 6. PER MERTESACKER: Went AWOL for both Tottenham goals, especially the first, but made amends with a towering headed equaliser. 6. LAURENT KOSCIELNY: Not a great deal to do, although fell asleep for Gareth Bale's goal. 6. THOMAS VERMAELEN: Nervy start at left-back but untroubled after Adebayor red card. 6. MIKEL ARTETA: Unspectacular but effective in retaining possession. 7. JACK WILSHERE: Began the game almost as fired up as Adebayor but settled and played his part in the comeback that followed. 7. THEO WALCOTT: Started the comeback by setting up Mertesacker's goal and eventually scored himself. 8. SANTI CAZORLA: Quiet until Adebayor's sending off but simply tore into 10-man Tottenham, setting up one and deservedly scoring another. 8. LUKAS PODOLSKI: A bit lucky with his goal but worked hard and set up another. 8. OLIVIER GIROUD: Fifth goal in five games and unlucky not to score again. 8. SUBSTITUTES: AARON RAMSEY (for Wilshere, 72 mins): Did not need to do much at all. 5. ANDRE SANTOS (for Podolski, 80): Even he could not mess this one up. 4. ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN (for Giroud, 86): Set up Walcott's goal. 5. Tottenham ratings HUGO LLORIS: Big call bringing him back in for a derby, and endured a very busy afternoon. Powerless to prevent thrashing. 6. KYLE WALKER: Never really got forward and given a roasting by Cazorla after Spurs went down to 10 men. Failed to emerge after half-time. 4. WILLIAM GALLAS: Was imperious until Adebayor's sending off and then repeatedly embarrassed by his former club. 5. JAN VERTONGHEN: Better than Gallas but still found himself overrun. 6 KYLE NAUGHTON: Square peg, round hole. Off at half-time. 4. AARON LENNON: Went close to making it 2-0 before the red card but pegged back after that. 5. SANDRO: Repeatedly given the benefit of the doubt by referee Howard Webb over a succession of fouls before finally getting booked. 5. TOM HUDDLESTONE: Nightmare day for the midfielder after his long-awaited England recall and was definitely to blame for Arsenal's first two goals. 4. GARETH BALE: Only outfield player to do himself real justice. Scored a good solo goal. 7. EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR: Played the pantomime villain to perfection. Score, wound up former supporters and then get sent off. 3. JERMAIN DEFOE: Thankless task after Adebayor was sent off but still should have scored late on. 5. SUBSTITUTES MICHAEL DAWSON (for Walker, 46): Three-at-the-back experiment backfired. 5. CLINT DEMPSEY (for Naughton, 46): Did little to stem the tide. 5. TOM CARROLL (for Huddlestone, 72): Anonymous. 4.

Source: team_talk