Arsenal Ratings: Rice, Gabriel Vs Zagreb

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Post on Jan 23, 2025

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Arsenal Ratings: Rice, Gabriel Shine Against Zagreb; But Room for Improvement Remains

Hey Gunners fans! Let's dive into the Arsenal vs. Dinamo Zagreb game, shall we? It wasn't the prettiest win, but a win's a win, right? Especially in the Champions League. I'm still buzzing from that Declan Rice performance! Seriously, the guy's a beast. But let's be honest, there were some areas where we could've done better. So, let's get into the individual player ratings, shall we? This is gonna be fun!

Declan Rice: 9/10 - A midfield Maestro

Dude, where do I even begin with Rice? He absolutely bossed the midfield. His passing was crisp, his tackling was clean (mostly!), and his presence alone seemed to completely shut down Zagreb's attacks. He's already a legend! He’s the midfield general we’ve been dreaming of. Seriously, signing him was the best thing we've done in ages. He's a game changer, and it showed. I was particularly impressed by his ability to break up play and quickly launch attacks. The guy's a machine! He's a huge upgrade to our midfield. Some might even say he's a generational talent.

A Few Minor Gripes?

Okay, even legends have some minor flaws! I thought his passing could sometimes be a tad too safe, you know? Maybe he should try a few more risky passes, to really unlock the attack. But overall, a phenomenal performance.

Gabriel Magalhaes: 8.5/10 - A Rock at the Back

Gabriel was immense at the back! So solid. He won nearly every aerial duel and made some crucial last-ditch tackles. He was truly the captain of our back four, leading by example. He reads the game so well, and his positioning is impeccable. He’s just an absolute unit at the back. I felt so much more confident with him marshalling the defense. You know, sometimes last year I would worry about those moments with the back four, not anymore! No more nightmares!

Room for Improvement?

Perhaps he could've been a bit more assertive in stepping out and winning the ball higher up the pitch sometimes. I'm not saying he's perfect, but he was close! A small thing, though.

Other Notable Performances:

• Odegaard (7.5/10): Controlled the tempo well, but could've been more impactful in the final third.
• Havertz (7/10): Worked hard, but his finishing was a bit off. He needs to find his scoring boots!
• Saka (8/10): As always, a constant threat down the wing. His pace and skill were on full display. His energy was infectious.

Overall Thoughts on the Game

It was a good, solid performance from the team. Not their best, but certainly an encouraging start. We’ve got room to improve, that's for sure! We need to be more clinical in front of goal and improve our passing in the final third. But overall, it's great to start the Champions League with a win, especially with such a commanding display in midfield from Declan Rice.

It wasn't a perfect performance, but a very promising one. The chemistry is growing nicely and we are developing into a team that could do big things this season.

Let me know what you thought about the game in the comments below! COYG!