Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd Player Ratings - Holding stars in draw

8:25pm on Saturday 30th January 2021
By Stefan Bienkowski

Arsenal extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven matches with a hardfought 0-0 draw against Manchester United on Saturday night.

Mikel Arteta’s side were without a number of key players ahead of the clash, but the Spaniard was able to rely upon a number of back-up players to ensure a valuable point against a United side that undoubtedly had ambitions of claiming all three points and continuing their challenge for the league title.

Arsenal v Manchester United: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats

✔️ GOOD PERFORMANCE

Bernd Leno: 7.1

While Kieran Tierney, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have hogged much of the praise from Arsenal fans this season, goalkeeper Bernd Leno has undoubtedly been one of the side’s most underrated performers. And on Saturday he once again showed why he was so important to Arteta’s side.

Perhaps the most obvious example came in the 20th minute, when Man Utd midfielder Fred met a rebound on the edge of the box with an excellent curled shot, which forced Leno to knock it wide with an outstretched arm. Over the course of the game the German shot-stopper made three saves and got on the end of countless crosses and through balls from a lively but ultimately frustrated United attacking line.

❌ BAD PERFORMANCE

Gabriel Martinelli: 6.1

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still out of the Arsenal team for personal reasons, Arteta turned to Gabriel Martinelli to step into the Gabon international’s shoes and offer some attacking intent down the left flank.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, the Brazilian winger spent much of the first half chasing shadows and struggling to get beyond Man Utd defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Before getting pulled off at half time, Martinelli managed just two dribbles, zero shots towards goal and failed to make a single cross into the United box.

⭐ STAR MAN

Rob Holding: 7.1

If Arsenal were going to get anything out of this match with Man Utd they would have to make sure they kept their opponents quiet up front. And in Rob Holding Arteta had a central defender that made sure the likes of Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani were given very little time or space to put the ball in the back of the net.

Alongside the theatrical David Luiz, Holding looked the definition of composure and played the part too with 10 clearances, alongside winning each of his attempted aerial duels and just eight ball losses over the course of the game.

Arsenal v Manchester United: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats