Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Player Ratings: Viktor Gyokeres MOTM in London Derby as Gunners Win at Stamford Bridge

While Chelsea were determined to make a strong statement on home soil, Arsenal took an early lead in the high-profile London derby at Stamford Bridge. Ben White struck the opener for the Gunners from a corner only seven minutes into the game.

Chelsea FC, after conceding in the Carabao Cup fixture, picked up the pace, with Estevao making some promising runs down the right flank. Mikel Arteta’s side, however, held the defense with much composure.

Joao Pedro also had a good game, but failed to bring Chelsea back into the game in the first half. Marc Cucurella was shown a yellow card due to an untimed challenge on Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal appeared more dangerous at the start of the second half. Viktor Gyokeres capitalised on an error by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to double the lead for the visiting side.

The Blues finally found the breakthrough after Alejandro Garnacho was brought into the attack. The Argentina winger delivered a clinical finish to pull one back for the hosts. Arsenal responded quickly as Martin Zubimendi toyed with Chelsea to restore the two-goal lead for his team. The Gunners had a few more opportunities to increase their lead but, the Chelsea defence stood tall to deny them all.

In the 83rd minute, Garnacho scored his second from a corner to keep the contest alive for Chelsea. The last few minutes of the Carabao Cup fixture were quite intense, with both teams pushing for the goal.

Arsenal ultimately won the first leg of the Carabao Cup clash at a score of 3-2 at Stamford Bridge. In this article below, we'll discuss Chelsea vs Arsenal player ratings from the EFL Cup game.

Key Takeaways

1. Ben White gave Arsenal an early lead from a corner in the 7th minute.
2. Viktor Gyokeres doubled Arsenal’s advantage after a goalkeeper error early in the second half.
3. Alejandro Garnacho scored twice, but Arsenal held on to win 3–2 at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Check out Chelsea player ratings from Chelsea vs Arsenal Carabao Cup game:

Goalkeeper

Robert Sánchez - 3.5: A truly shocking performance from the Chelsea shot-stopper. We noticed his confidence was shot from the early moments. He was directly responsible for two goals, which is simply unacceptable at this level. While he made three saves, the two glaring errors leading to goals completely overshadowed any positives. His distribution was also shaky, losing possession 13 times. A day to forget.

Defenders

Marc Cucurella - 6.0: A mixed bag for Cucurella before he was substituted. He was tidy in possession with 90% pass accuracy but struggled to contain Arsenal's wide threats. He picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and won four of his five duels, but the defensive line as a whole was far too vulnerable. From our perspective, he was just okay.

Trevoh Chalobah - 6.0: Chalobah was busy all night, racking up nine clearances. He looked solid in his individual duels, winning most of them. However, the defence lacked any real cohesion and he was part of a backline that conceded three goals. A decent individual effort in a poor team performance.

Wesley Fofana - 6.0: Fofana looked comfortable on the ball, with an 87% pass accuracy. He tried to be proactive, winning four duels and making a couple of important clearances. But, like his defensive partners, he was ultimately part of a unit that was breached too easily. He seemed to struggle with the movement of Arsenal's forwards before being taken off.

Josh Acheampong - 6.0: The young defender had a tough outing against a top-quality attack. He was substituted early in the second half after a difficult 53 minutes. He did make one key pass and looked to get forward, but he was defensively exposed. It was a learning experience for him, for sure.

Midfielders

Pedro Neto - 7.0: Neto was one of Chelsea's few bright sparks in attack. He provided the assist for Chelsea's first goal and created three chances throughout the game. What stood out to us was his desire to make things happen. However, his final product was inconsistent, and he lost possession a staggering 17 times. He needs to be more careful on the ball.

Enzo Fernández - 7.5: The captain tried to drag his team forward. He had a massive 102 touches, showing he was at the heart of everything Chelsea tried to do. He played two key passes and was constantly trying to orchestrate the play. While he lost the ball a lot, it was because he was always taking risks to create something. A spirited performance in a losing cause.

Andrey Santos - 6.5: A tidy and industrious performance in midfield. Santos kept the ball moving with 90% pass accuracy and wasn't afraid to get stuck in. He won a few duels and made a key pass, but at times the game seemed to pass him by. He provided a solid, if unspectacular, platform.

João Pedro - 6.5: A frustrating night for João Pedro. He worked hard, winning seven of his 13 duels and drawing four fouls. From our perspective, he was a nuisance. But he was also dispossessed five times and lost the ball frequently, which killed his team's momentum. He showed flashes of his quality but lacked the cutting edge.

Estêvão - 6.5: The winger was a livewire but ultimately lacked end product. He completed an impressive five dribbles and wasn't afraid to take shots, but four attempts with only one on target isn't efficient enough. He was a constant threat, yet his decision-making let him down at crucial moments. So much potential, but it didn't quite click for him here.

Forwards

Marc Guiu - 6.0: It was a tough night for the young striker, who was tasked with leading the line. He was physically outmatched and struggled to get involved, touching the ball only 15 times in his 53 minutes. He worked hard off the ball but couldn't impose himself on the game before being substituted.

Manager

L. Rosenior - 6.0: His team showed great character to fight back from two losing positions, but the defensive setup was all wrong from the start. They looked disorganized and vulnerable, particularly in the first half. While the substitutions added some spark, the initial game plan left his team with a mountain to climb.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Here are Arsenal player ratings from Arsenal vs Chelsea first leg game:

Goalkeeper

Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6.0: It's hard to be too critical of Kepa for the two goals conceded. He made three important saves, including two from inside the box, to keep his team ahead. His distribution was a bit erratic, with a pass accuracy of just 55%. He did what was asked of him for the most part, but it wasn't a commanding display.

Defenders

William Saliba - 6.5: A standard, solid performance from Saliba without being spectacular. He was strong in his duels, winning five of seven, and his passing was as crisp as ever. However, being part of a defence that conceded twice and looked shaky at times means he can't get a higher rating. He was good, but we've seen him be better.

Ben White - 7.5: Scored the crucial opening goal with a well-taken header, setting the tone for his team. Defensively, it was a mixed performance. He won over half his duels but was dribbled past twice. His goal gives his rating a significant boost. A key contributor to the win.

Gabriel Magalhães - 7.0: Gabriel was a rock at the back for large parts of the game. He was dominant in the air, won 75% of his duels, and made a massive ten clearances. His aggressive, front-foot defending was crucial in stopping several Chelsea attacks. A very strong defensive outing.

Jurriën Timber - 5.5: From our perspective, this was a night to forget for Timber. He really struggled, being dribbled past three times and losing most of his duels. His passing was accurate, but he looked off the pace defensively and was a clear weak link that Chelsea tried to exploit. We were surprised he wasn't substituted.

Midfielders

Martin Ødegaard - 6.5: A quiet evening by the captain's high standards. He had a couple of shots and looked tidy on the ball but failed to impose his usual creative genius on the match. He was substituted after 68 minutes, perhaps with an eye on future games. Not his most influential performance.

Martín Zubimendi - 8.0: What a fantastic performance from the midfielder. He scored what proved to be the winning goal with a composed finish. Beyond the goal, his passing was immaculate with 94% accuracy, and he put in a solid defensive shift with two tackles and two interceptions. A complete midfield display.

Declan Rice - 8.5: He was everywhere. Rice completely ran the midfield, providing an assist and creating four chances, including one big chance. He was immense defensively, recovering the ball four times and making three clearances. A commanding, all-action performance that demonstrated his class.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka - 7.0: Saka was a persistent threat down the right flank. While he didn't get on the scoresheet, he created three chances for his teammates and was a constant source of danger. He drew several fouls and worked tirelessly, recovering the ball eight times. A good, effective performance.

Viktor Gyökeres - 9.0: Unquestionably the man of the match. What stood out to us was his clinical nature. He was involved in two of the three goals, scoring one and assisting another. He only had 17 touches but made them all count. His movement and finishing were top-class, and he was the decisive factor in this thrilling victory. Outstanding.

Leandro Trossard - 6.5: A busy but ultimately frustrating game for Trossard. He showed great skill with three successful dribbles but was wasteful in front of goal. He also picked up a yellow card and lost possession 12 times. He was involved, but the final ball or shot was missing before he was subbed off.

Manager

M. Arteta - 7.5: Arteta set his team up perfectly to start the game, and they executed his plan with ruthless efficiency to go 2-0 up. They looked dangerous and controlled. However, his side showed defensive frailties and allowed Chelsea back into a game that should have been put to bed. He gets credit for the win and the brilliant attacking display, but the defensive lapses will be a concern.

Chelsea vs Arsenal Man of the Match

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal was Sportsdunia's player of the match with 9/10 ratings.

Worst Performer

Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez conceded two sloppy goals.