Match Report & Player Ratings as 22 Arsenal players feature in 2-2 draw vs. Rangers

Arsenal were in a dominant mood when they travelled to Rangers on Saturday afternoon. 

The Gunners fell behind early after conceding a poor set piece goal. After that point though, Arsenal were extremely dominant against the Scottish Champions. Mikel Arteta will have been impressed with new signing Nuno Tavares who showed great attacking desire to level the game.

Arteta though will have been less pleased with his skipper, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who, amongst others, missed some big chances in the first half. 

The second half saw 5 changes at half time and 6 more at the 60 minute mark in what was just the second pre-season game for the Gunners. That meant 22 players had a run out and we’ve rated them all below. 

Arsenal were extremely dominant in terms of possession in the second half, dictating the game but again struggling to break through. Mikel will have been impressed with the players pressing considering how early they are in pre-season preparations. 

He will not have been impressed though with set piece defending, which saw Rangers, with their only attack of the half, score again from a corner with 15 minutes to go.  

With less than 10 minutes to go, Eddie Nketiah then showed his attacking pedigree by snatching the ball from the Rangers defence before smashing in at the near post. 

First half XI
Arthur Okonkwo – 6
Cedric Soares – 6
Rob Holding – 7
Pablo Mari – 4
Nuno Tavares – 8
Thomas Partey – 7
Mohammed Elneny – 6
Nicolas Pepe – 7
Emile Smith Rowe – 8
Folarin Balogun – 7
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 4

On at half time
McLaughlin (for Okonkwo) – 6
Kieran Tierney (for Tavares) – 6
Calum Chambers (for Mari) – 5
Hector Belleirn (for Cedric) – 5
Alexandre Lacazette (for Balogun) – 5

On at 60 minutes
Sead Kolasinac (for Holding) – 5
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (for Thomas Partey) – 5
Joe Willock (for Mo Elneny) – 6
Reiss Nelson (for Pepe) – 5
Willian (for Smith Rowe) – 5
Eddie Nketiah (for Aubameyang) – 7

Man of the match

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Nuno Tavares (8) On his debut, the new £7million man showed that going forward he can offer the team a lot, and a more natural replacement to Tierney.