Arsenal player ratings vs PSG as Bukayo Saka error costly and Thomas Partey tactic falls blunt

Arsenal Fabian Ruiz scored a volley from a cheaply given away free-kick that could only be cleared to the edge of the box where the Spaniard was waiting.

David Raya’s penalty save could only lift the mood for a matter of minutes as a comedy of errors from Jakub Kiwior and Thomas Partey would gift Achraf Hakimi the chance to score the second of the evening.

Arsenal responded quickly by taking advantage of a loose ball in the box, with Bukayo Saka netting from close range. However he would then miss the chance for a swift second, smashing a strike on an open goal over the bar.

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Here is how football.london rated the performances of the Arsenal players as they were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

David Raya – Very little the Spaniard could do about the Ruiz strike, it took a slight deflection off Saliba on the way through which sadly took it away from him. He did make a good stop from Bradley Barcola with help from a sliding Declan Rice.

The penalty save was a show that Raya can indeed not dive early, pushing the ball round the post. 7

Jurrien Timber – Playing much higher up in an attempt to pin the PSG full-backs, Timber was displaying some of his best football at both ends of the field. 8

William Saliba – Was lucky to not cost Arsenal a goal in the first half, a loose pass across the back line intercepted and fortunately Desire Doue’s effort was tame. Overall he had a decent game but missed his dream partner Gabriel Magalhaes. 6

Jakub Kiwior – Despite a decent first half display, Jakub Kiwior made a critical error, a loose pass which turned over and led to the second goal. 6

Myles Lewis-Skelly – Caught making a couple of mistakes in the first half, loose passes and holding onto the ball for too long put the Gunners under unnecessary pressure. Giving away a penalty, not necessarily his fault but it summed up his game which was a nightmarish night with many mistakes. 5

Thomas Partey – The Ghanaian returned and deployed a long-throw technique not seen for some time, causing all sorts of problems early on. His presence was so obviously beneficial and made his absence in the first leg so much more irritating.

However, he was caught being too lackadaisical in the box, giving the chance for Hakimi to strike and find the corner. 7

Declan Rice – Had a big chance early in the first few minutes, heading a Jurrien Timber cross just wide. His loose touch and subsequent foul gave away the free-kick which led to the opening goal.

He was as usual tenacious and full of running but couldn’t find the difference on this occasion. 7

Martin Odegaard – Strike from outside the box from the skipper first time in the opening minutes was pushed excellently round the post. He had moments in the game where he looked much sharper but still found himself lacking urgency and creativity in the key moments. 7

Bukayo Saka – In the first half Bukayo Saka went through periods where he just looked lacking in that final edge. Even when Nuno Mendes suffered a booking, there was a real want for the winger to be more aggressive and test the Portuguese.

In the second half he found the space to produce an excellent effort that had to be tipped round the post. He would find the net after a ball squirmed through to him following some hard work by Leandro Trossard. He would then however sky a massive chance which could have changed everything. 7

Gabriel Martinelli – Like Rice, he too had an early chance to score which at close range was saved by Donnarumma. Sadly the rest of the game he found himself isolated and lacking much threat as the PSG team boxed him out of the game. 5

Mikel Merino – So much better for the Arsenal system to have a target man in the fold and there to knock down the long balls and be a threat in the box. The chance in the first half saw Saka fire a low driven ball in that the Spaniard could not direct toward goal. Arsenal need a striker, Merino has done a decent job, but in these moments the gap is obvious. 6

Substitutes:

Leandro Trossard – Made an immediate impact by winning the ball off Marquinhos before finding the cross which Bukayo Saka gladfully took. 7

Riccardo Calafiori – The Italian too would have a hand in the creation of a major chance minutes after coming on. Finding the perfect ball into the middle only to watch Saka fire over the bar. 7

Ben White - Came on and had little to no impact on the game. n/a