Danny Welbeck’s hat-trick led the way in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Galatasaray, but it was Wojciech Szczesny’s red card that may have added more troubles for the already injury-laden Gunners squad.
Arsenal comfortably secured three points against a lacklustre Galatasaray on Wednesday night with new signing Danny Welbeck the star of the show in a 4-1 win.
The striker scored his first professional hat-trick with finishes that might conjure Thierry Henry. That’s not to compare the two men, just the way that Welbeck took his goals, but even so it was a hugely encouraging performance from the former Man United man and the Arsenal team.
The night was spoiled somewhat by another European red card for Wojciech Szczesny, a dismissal that prevented the Gunners from really routing their feeble opposition, but all in all, the positives far outweighed that one negative.
Player ratings (1-10; 10=best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Wojciech Szczesny, 5 – Had little to do and was perhaps impetuous when he rushed out to upend Burak Yilmaz, but it does raise questions about the last-man rule. Why a red card when a yellow and a penalty is punishment enough? Especially when Felipe Melo got away with just a yellow card for a disgusting two-footed foul on Alexis in the first half.
D Calum Chambers, 7.5 – A quietly assured performance from the young man yet again. He managed to avoid a booking for a change.
D Per Mertesacker, 7.5 – Captain for the night in the absence of Mikel Arteta, he was more or less untroubled. Made a fantastic tackle and pass to Mesut Ozil, who then set up Arsenal’s third goal for Alexis.
D Laurent Koscielny, 7.5 – Like his central defensive partner, he coped well with everything the Galatasaray forwards had to offer.
D Kieran Gibbs, 7.5 – Gibbs was solid at the back and, in the first half in particular, overlapped well and combined often with Alexis. If he can stay fit, you can see how he’ll develop into a top-class left-back.
MF Mathieu Flamini, 7 – Unadventurous, but then again, that’s what his job required on Wednesday night. Frustrated by heavy tackles on his teammates, the Frenchman got involved himself and picked up a booking he really didn’t need to.
MF Santi Cazorla, 8 – Interestingly played in the centre of midfield just ahead of Flamini, he was effective and helped Arsenal build the rhythm with which they destroyed the visitors in the first half. Unlucky not to get a goal at the end.
Danny Welbeck will rightly steal the headlines, but Mesut Ozil, Alexis and Santi Cazorla were all excellent vs. Galatasaray.
MF Mesut Ozil, 8 – If you listened to the TV commentators, they would have you believe he had a poor game. The truth is he played well, was involved in much of what Arsenal tried to do in the final third and provided the assist for Alexis’ goal.
MF Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 8 – After his match-saving goal against Spurs at the weekend, he played with real verve and confidence on Wednesday, even getting an assist under his belt for Welbeck’s hat-trick goal.
MF Alexis, 8 – Lucky not to have been badly injured by Melo’s horrendous challenge, Alexis exacted the perfect revenge a few minutes later by getting his fifth Arsenal goal of the season. As industrious and busy as ever but combined with a genuine end product, including an assist for Welbeck’s opener.
F Danny Welbeck, 9.5 – A brilliant performance from the England international. He had it all, pace, power and a calmness and quality to his finishing that wasn’t there in his first few Arsenal games. Perhaps the night where his career in North London really took off.
Substitutes
GK David Ospina, 7.5 – Thrust into action when Szczesny was sent off, his first action was to pick the ball out of the net from the penalty. However, he was busy and made some good saves as Gala applied some pressure in the final 25 minutes.
MF Tomas Rosicky, 7 – He was put on to give the team the snapping energy it needed once it was down to 10 men. The Czech midfielder might not be starting often, but he showed why it’s good to have that kind of depth in the squad.
MF Jack Wilshere, N/A – Not in the game long enough to rate.