Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers – player ratings

There’s not much room for humour after yet another disastrous cup exit. We may have suggested medieval torture methods following the defeat to Bradford, but this time we’ll resort to giving every squad member that disappointed look a parent gives a misbehaving child. That and a mark out of ten.

Wojciech Szczesny: 4/10 – Had one save to make and made a hash of it pushing Olsson’s shot straight to Kazim-Richards who promptly scored. Costly mistakes don’t great goalkeepers make.

Francis Coquelin: 5/10 – Desperate to make an impression despite being played out of position. His eagerness saw him over-commit to challenges and attempt killer balls when simpler passes would have sufficed. Naivety proved costly for goal.

Laurent Koscielny: 5/10 – Slow covering for Coquelin as Olsson got free in the box to shoot. Should be more of an attacking threat at corners.

Thomas Vermaelen: 5/10 – Nothing wrong with his performance per se. However, when the chips are down you need your captain to motivate the troops; it didn’t happen. Why?

Nacho Monreal: 5/10 – Got up and down the left wing well enough but lacked quality with his final ball into the box.

Mikel Arteta: 5/10 – Missed last gasp chance when he shot into side netting in injury-time. Passing was tidy but too safe? Appears to have had any desire to attack beaten out of him.

Tomas Rosicky: 6/10 – Still rusty, but came closest to scoring with shot which hit the bar. Passing was hit-and-miss in first half but increasingly influential just before being substituted.

Abou Diaby: 4/10 – Was the Diaby who played at Anfield a mirage? Slow on the ball again, lacking cutting edge and not an attacking threat in and around the box.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 5/10 – Like Coquelin was desperate to make impression but tried so hard that he throttled his natural ability. Not playing with freedom and crossing was poor.

Gervinho: 4/10 – Initially pushed Blackburn onto back foot with dribbling, however, passing and decision-making remains horribly inconsistent. Had best chance of the match but snatched at his shot when the goal was beckoning. Did nothing in second half.

Olivier Giroud: 4/10 – Mistimed headers, failed with silly fancy first time flicks and rarely made a nuisance of himself inside six-yard box. Had a bit of a stinker.

Subs

Santi Cazorla: 5/10 – Lots of passes along the edge of the box, not much else.

Jack Wilshere: 6/10 – Made a noticeable difference spreading the play as we chased the game but he can’t do it all on his own.

Theo Walcott: 5/10 – A couple of runs but that was about it.

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