Fulham vs Arsenal: Player Ratings

Arsenal have left their opening day disaster behind them, with back to back wins and scoring 3 goals again.

FULHAM:

Starting XI

David Stockdale: 7/10

Could not have done anything to prevent any of the three goals, looked sharp but still a long way to go if he thinks of taking the starting place off Maarten Sketelenburg.

Aaron Hughes: 6/10

His blocking was excellent but his positioning was horrible, was not assisted by the luck on offer for the Giroud goal, but was not very comfortable when defending the counter-attacks from the Arsenal front-line.

Brede Hangeland: 5/10 (Flop of the Match)

If you are a CF, most of the times playing Hangeland is one of the difficult tasks you will face in the EPL but Giroud kept him in his pocket, aerial success for Hangeland was minimum and even his passing deserted him. Overall a very poor game from the Fulham captain.

John Arn Riise: 6/10

Should have gone for goal at an opportunity in the first half but because he hasn't scored yet for the Cottagers he did not have the confidence thus wasting a good opportunity. His distribution wasn't good either and there is still a lot of work remaining for him and Taraabt to get on the same page.

Sascha Reither: 7/10

Second half was all about him especially when Damien Duff was substituted and he got some room to move in to, his crossing was once again good when he got into space in the latter half of the game but the damage had already been done by then.

Scott Parker: 7/10

Started poorly, maybe a bit of slackness due to limited pre-season with Spurs but once he got a hang of it he was again at his very best. Twisting and turning and picking up passes, while also tackling and holding on to possession. He will be a very important player for Fulham this season there is no doubt about it.

Steve Sidwell: 5/10

A strong contender for flop of the match status, he was completely useless in the game, and it was the only correct decision Martin Jol made by subbing him for Karagounis. A real horror show from the former Gunner.

Aadel Taraabt: 6/10

Another player whose first 20 odd minutes were poor, but as the game went on he impressed and looked very lively. But something happened to Jol and when Taraabt started to look threatening he substituted him for Kacaniklic.

Patsjim Kasami: 6/10

A good first game of the season but not a very good game this one for the Fulham man. Didn't create any chances for the front-men and also his intricate passing was absent. He will be hoping for better next time.

Damien Duff:  5/10

Horror show from Fulhams' ace-man, or is he? He missed quite a decent chance to get it back to 1-1 in the first half. Afterwards, he was hugging the touch line throughout his stay failing to give Reither a chance to overlap and failing to link up with his CF or center midfield. A very strange outing from Duff who usually is a very reliable player.

Dimitar Berbatov: 6/10

Although he got an assist, this was a game where he should not have followed his own advice of keeping calm and asking everyone to pass to him. His link up was poor overall, and his positioning was horrible, many a times he was offside in promising positions.

Subs:

Alexander Kacaniklic:  5/10

Why was he subbed on? He gave nothing, no dribbling, no flow, no movement. That was a poor decision to take Taraabt off and get him on.

Giorgos Karagounis: 7/10

For the work he did on the pitch he deserves that rating, if only Berbatov was alive enough or Mertasacker was having a poor game, he could have had an assist of those delightful deliveries in the box from the Right-side. You may age but your skills never!

Darren Bent: 7/10

A tap-in to score on his home debut. He has given enough food for thought to Berbatov and Jol that he is here to break into first team plans. Now, its upto Martin Jol to utilize him or do a Paul Lambert to him

ARSENAL

Starting XI

Wojiech Szczesny: 8/10

He saved that shot from Berbatov, sadly Bent was there to tuck it in. Apart from that he made some outstanding saves today. A very good performance after being criticized heavily after that game against Villa at the Emirates.

Bacary Sagna: 6/10

Unnatural position for him to be playing at CB but he did reasonably well. Also have to say Fulham very rarely tested his Center back abilities.

Per Mertasacker: 9/10

Brilliant game from the big German. His positioning was excellent, so good that it seemed like he has a magnet attached to him which is attracting the ball towards him. Nothing got beyond the big German today. A very commanding performance.

Carl Jenkinson: 5/10

Lad still has a lot to learn to become a decent full-back. He still leaves open space behind him and his decision making as a defender still embarrasses him. Hopefully he will improve as there are signs of that happening.

Keiran Gibbs: 7/10

You might be thinking is he that good that he is keeping Nacho Monreal out of the starting line-up. Well, lets just say that he is. He is deserving to start ahead of Monreal and it will be benefit if he just lands those crosses in the perfect area, or atleast in the area, or atleast land a cross.

Tomas Rosicky: 7/10

Silent but effective. He did not make much nusiance but did very well to switch plays between flanks to create the openings that led to the goals. He is an artist to watch when fit, lets hope he stays fit. Good game from the Czech.

Aaron Ramsey: 8/10

Excellent game from the young lad. His passing and flow was brilliant and it seems like he is getting back to his best form. Arsenal would require him to get to the top as well as he has the ability to cut-open defenses and also play keep-ball. One request to Wenger though, don't play him on the flanks ever again, please.

Santi Cazorla: 7/10

From the standards that the Spaniard has set for himself, this looked a rather subdued performance. He was trying very hard to get a goal or a shot to his name at the end but wasn't to be. Maybe, he needs a bit of a rest, maybe.

Theo Walcott: 8/10

He should have had a goal to cap off a very good outing. His pace was always going to cause Fulham problems and the way Fulham set up assisted him massively. He created havoc and also created a goal. Well done Theo, well done!

Lukas Podolski: 9/10

No, not the man of the match for me, but his left-foot was foot of the match for me, definitely. His might be the best left-foot after RvP's, please see the goals he scored and you would understand where I am coming from. Pretty emphatic goal scoring from the German. If can keep it up they don't really require Benzema or Suarez.

Olivier Giroud 10/10 (Man of the Match)

Atlast, a treat to watch a proper CF in action. Olivier Giroud was a treat to watch today with his aerial supremacy and his first touches. His goal was brilliant and his control for the 3rd goal was even better. Quite possibly his best outing so far the Gunners. Keep the goals coming Giroud, keep them coming boy!

Subs:

Nacho Monreal: 6/10

A lack of game-time was clearly evident from Monreal's performance. He lacks match fitness which was also evident from him losing to Reither in a race to get to the ball in the finishing stages of the game.

Jack Wilshere: 7/10

He looks fine, was just given a rest I presume. He resumed his ball controlling, tempo controlling duties and did amicably.

Yaya Sanogo: N/A

Normally I do rate every player but I couldn't recall him even having a touch so cant rate if he dint even touch the ball now can I. We will let this pass or for you to judge.

Thanks for Reading! hope you liked the ratings, please post your feedback. We'd appreciate it!