Arsenal vs Tottenham Player Ratings: Odegaard and Lacazette goals sink a lethargic Spurs

Arsenal vs Tottenham Player Ratings:

The 189th North-London lived up to its billing as the match was a great watch for Arsenal fans and neutrals. Let's get straight into the player ratings for the Arsenal vs Tottenham North-London derby played on 14th March 2021.

Arsenal Player Ratings:

Bernd Leno: 6

Thankfully for Arsenal, the Gunner's goalie had an error-free game unlike his last couple of outings. Had no chance in Lamela's spectacular goal as his Rabona shot went past two to three Arsenal bodies. 

Leno had a comfortable game apart from a late scare where he was left scrambling from the Harry Kane free kick in which the Arsenal goalie was beaten only to saved by the post. Sportco's player ratings for Leno's performance in the Arsenal vs Tottenham game is a reasonable six

Cedric: 7

Chosen over Hector Bellerin for this game at right-back, Cedric justified his selection with a tough and high-energy performance. He didn't allow any room for Spurs to build any attack down the left channel.

David Luiz: 7.5

The Brazilian kept Harry Kane in his pocket for the entire game. Luiz was commanding and solid at the back for Arsenal. His distribution from the back was pin-point accurate. Hence, our player ratings for David Luiz for the Arsenal vs Tottenham match is a 7.5.

Gabriel: 7

Gabriel formed a brilliant partnership with Luiz at the back. His heroic moment came in the dying minutes of the game when he made a match-winning block to deny Ndombele's follow-up effort that was goal-bound from Harry Kane's free-kick.

Kieran Tierney: 9 ⭐

What a left-back Arsenal have discovered. Most Arsenal attacks were built from the left and Tierney's energy and movement were one of the main reasons for it. He had great chemistry and combined well with Emile Smith-Rowe to create wave after wave of Arsenal attacks.

Defensively impenetrable and kept Gareth Bale quiet for the entire game, Kieran Tierney had one of his best games for Arsenal and hence, he is our pick for the player of the match. Sportco's Arsenal vs Tottenham player ratings for Kieran Tierney is a well-deserved nine.

Thomas Partey: 7

The Ghanaian displayed a commanding performance in the middle of the park. The Tottenham forwards didn't receive any room to create from the middle and was partly due to the presence of Thomas Partey. He showed great accuracy in his passing, with a couple of neatly threaded-through balls for Bakayo Saka in the first half.

Granit Xhaka: 7.5

The Swiss International was disciplined and compact throughout the game for Arsenal. Showed great distribution of passing and had a great partnership with Thomas Partey in the midfield for the Gunners. 

Bukayo Saka: 6

Saka had a decent first half, as he tried to get behind the Tottenham backline on numerous occasions only to be let down by his end product.

Martin Odegaard: 8

The young Norwegian prodigy showed a glimpse of his talent to Arsenal fans of what is about to come. Odegaard showed great energy and his link-up play with Emile Smith-Rowe, Kieran Tierney and Alexandre Lacazette was great to watch. 

Scored the all-important equalizer for Arsenal just before half-time with a wonderful slotted low shot past Hugo Lloris. Hence, Sportco's player ratings for Martin Odegaard for Arsenal vs Tottenham game is an eight.

Emile Smith-Rowe: 8.5

Smith-Rowe was at the heart of every Arsenal attack, creating the most chances in the game (4). Was unlucky to have his shot hit the woodwork in the first-half with Hugo Lloris beaten. His link-up play with Kieran Tierney down the left side was too good and ferocious for the Tottenham defense.

Alexandre Lacazette: 8

Lacazette is not the best of finishers you will see in the game, but he surely is a team player. The Frenchman huffed and puffed throughout the match and finally received the reward for his endeavors with a gift from the referee in the form a penalty which he duly converted to send Arsenal 2-1 up in the match. 

The goal turned out to be the match-winner and hence, Sportco's player ratings for Lacazette for Arsenal vs Tottenham game is an eight. 

Subs: Pepe (6); Willian (6); Elneny (N/A)

Tottenham Player Ratings:

Hugo Lloris: 6

The Tottenham captain was pretty assuring and comfortable with his handling and clearances. Had no chance in both the Arsenal goals. 

Matt Doherty: 5.5

Doherty had a torrid time at right-back for Spurs as he did not receive much cover from his Tottenham players with Smith-Rowe and Kieran Tierney doubling up on him. His lack of pace was evident against the Arsenal youngsters.

Davinson Sanchez: 7

The pick of the Tottenham defenders, Sanchez dealt with most of the Arsenal attacks. Was extremely unlucky to have been penalized for the foul on Lacazette inside the box which led to an Arsenal penalty. Overall, Sanchez had a good game for Tottenham. Our player ratings for Davinson Sanchez for the Arsenal vs Tottenham match is seven.

Toby Alderweireld: 6

The Belgian didn't have one of his best games in a Tottenham shirt. Probably didn't do much wrong in the game.

Sergio Reguilon: 6.5

Provided the pass to Lucas Moura which led to Lamela's spectacular Rabona goal, Reguilon looked the only outlet for Tottenham with his darting runs forward. Dealt with both Saka and Pepe well in first-half and second-half respectively.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: 5

Hojbjerg didn't look his tenacious best against the Gunners. The energy and pace of the Arsenal midfield were too good to handle for him. Sportco's player ratings for Hojbjerg's performance in the Arsenal vs Tottenham game is a five.

Tanguy Ndombele: 5.5

The Frenchman was rusty with his touches at times in the midfield for Spurs. His partnership with Hojbjerg didn't work out well for Spurs against Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard.

Gareth Bale: 5.5

The Welshman did not have much to offer for Spurs in the game. Bale was a defensive liability for Spurs in this high-intensity game. Arsenal targeted the right side of Tottenham knowing that Gareth Bale does not like to defend and trackback to help out his right-back which left Doherty exposed. Our player ratings for Bale for the Arsenal vs Tottenham game is 5.5.

Lucas Moura: 7.5

The best player for Tottenham on the day, Moura showed fight and heart in the midfield. He also was the provider for the assist to Lamela's spectacular rabona goal. Moura started off in the number ten role behind Harry Kane, but had shift to the left side of midfield following Son's injury. Sportco's player ratings for Moura's performance in Arsenal vs Tottenham game is a 7.5.

Erik Lamela: 6

Lamela turned hero to villain for Spurs as he saw a second yellow for swinging his hand across Tierney's face. His Rabona goal was simply magical and definitely one of the best goals ever scored in the North-London Derby. Lamela's introduction in place of the injured, Son, also galvanized the Spurs midfield.

Harry Kane: 5

The record scorer in this fixture, Harry Kane had a subdued game by his high standards. The Englishman was well marshaled by Luiz and Gabriel throughout the game. Kane came to life only after Spurs went to 10-men with his free-kick beating Bernd Leno only to be denied by the post. 

Kane hardly had any touches in the Arsenal penalty box or shots from open play and was ineffective in attack due to his lack of pace. Hence, our player ratings for Harry Kane for the Arsenal vs Tottenham match is five.

Subs: Heung-Min Son (N/A injury), Sissoko (6), Dele Alli (6.5)