A gritty performance from Arsenal ensured they secured all 3 points in their 3-1 win over Stoke City. Man of the moment Aaron Ramsey netted the opener early on, before Geoff Cameron equalised midway through the first half. However, Per Mertesacker's header 10 minutes from half time gave the hosts the lead once again, before Bacary Sagna's looping header 20 minutes from time ensured Arsene Wenger's side ended the weekend at the summit of the Premier League.
You'd be right in thinking that Arsenal are a changing team, not necessarily for better, nor worse. The scintillating football that the 'Invincibles' played has diminished somewhat, only to be replaced by a more dogged attitude this term. The likes of Mesut Özil, Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott will ensure the club continue to aesthetically please the neutral, but it pales in comparison to the 'Va-Va-Voom' factor Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires brought to the team at the turn of the Millennium.
This outlook is perhaps encapsulated best in the blistering start to the campaign of midfielder Ramsey. Previously made a scapegoat by supporters when the team were underperforming, Ramsey was awarded the Arsenal Player of the Month ahead of kick off and deservedly so, having now scored 3 goals from 5 shots on target following the Stoke victory.
The display of Ramsey in the heart of the midfield ensured his rating of 8.3 was bettered only by Özil (8.9). With 35% of Arsenal's attacking touches coming through the centre, evidently the Wales international was at the hub of a vast majority of their offensive moves. This is further accentuated in that the midfielder played a total of 66 accurate passes over the 90 minutes; only Mathieu Flamini (67) executed more of every Arsenal player.
Yet, this facet of his game isn't the only reason he's been so highly revered by the supporters this term. With the team developing into a more solidified unit, Ramsey was essential in disrupting the rhythm of a Stoke team, making 6 tackles during the encounter, the most of every player. Evidently, while Ramsey is more than capable of instigating attacking moves, his ability to break up play and recycle possession has been pivotal in his performances this term.
Magnifying this aspect of his game and Ramsey managed to win possession in the midfield third an impressive 4 times throughout the encounter, with only Stoke's Steven N'Zonzi (6) doing so more often. With an average rating of 7.95 after 5 games, the 22-year-old is ostensibly showcasing why Arsenal fought hard to secure his signature in 2008, albeit being forced to work hard for his fair share of the plaudits.
This work in the middle of the park regularly goes unnoticed, but it's the more attack-minded players that benefit significantly. On his home debut, Özil was the one who profited the most from Ramsey's display in the midfield. The Germany international was able to creatively express himself as a result of the hard work of his teammate, picking up 2 assists and executing 7 key passes - no player has played such passes in a single Premier League game this season.
With the space he found against the Potters, the 24-year-old ensured he was crucial in everything creative to the Gunners. His 3 accurate crosses was the most over the encounter, despite his 80th minute withdrawal, while his 23 successful final third passes - again the most - aided in him being awarded the WhoScored.com man of the match. He may not have fully acclimatised to the rigours of English football, but early signs suggest the former Real Madrid ace will adjust seamlessly in time.
For the visitors, N’Zonzi was essential in midfield, with the Frenchman playing the most accurate passes (75) of every player on the pitch, not to mention winning possession in the midfield third (6) the most times over the encounter. But it was the Arsenal midfield duo of Ramsey and Özil that excelled in the result that has ultimately put the Gunners top the Premier League after 5 games.
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