Arsenal enjoyed a third straight win away to rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday after securing a 1-0 win thanks to a Gabriel header.
The Gunners battled through injuries, suspensions and a lack of senior midfield talent to earn all three points on their trip to close rivals Spurs, winning the first north London derby of the campaign.
Mikel Arteta’s men remain unbeaten as they look to steal the coveted Premier League title from reigning champions Manchester City.
But who impressed the most? Here are Arsenal’s best and worst players against Tottenham, courtesy of 90 minute player ratings.
Gabriel – 9/10
Who else could he have given the crown to? Arsenal’s best player in this game? Center back Gabriel was the only player to get his name on the scoresheet, heading the ball into the back of the net to separate the sides and send the Gunners to victory.
In defense he also thrived, clearing everything in his path with ease. When Arsenal were caught in a low block, Gabriel came into his own, proving to be an immense threat both aerially and physically on the pitch.
The Spurs offense could sometimes break down other characters on defense, but no one was able to shake Gabriel.
William Saliba – 8/10
If not Gabriel, his central defender partner Guillem Saliba. It’s no surprise that these two stand out against Spurs, their partnership is vital to everything at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
Saliba showed a real edge in this match. It’s not often that the Frenchman has to battle adversity to get on his game, but in front of his bitter rivals he looked nervous, with an early booking in the 15th minute symbolizing the pressure he might have caved to.
However, once he dug deep and stuck to a performance, he shone and became one of the most feared characters on the pitch. Saliba’s ability to bounce back from pressure is one Arsenal fans haven’t seen often, but will no doubt become vital as the season progresses.
Thomas Partey – 5/10
Let’s be clear: this was actually one of Thomas Partey’s best performances of late. He worked better with Jorginho in midfield and stepped up in the absence of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
However, Partey often looked too relaxed on the ball, opting to make short passes to his teammates rather than start a quick counter-attack.
He acted with almost too much confidence at times, refusing to unlock the confidence needed to throw a pass down the field and engage in the offensive game.
Ben White – 6/10
Ben White often struggled to keep up with the speedy, technical wingers spurs deployed, leaving him trapped when his opposition attacked.
His position was made worse, however, by the fact that he sat next to a perfect backline of Gabriel, Saliba and Jurrien Timber. Unfortunately for White, it symbolized a small chink in an otherwise flawless armor.
