Rapid Vienna vs Arsenal result: Player ratings as Thomas Partey impresses in first start for winning Gunners

Mikel Arteta’s side came from behind to begin their European campaign with a victory in Austria

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Rapid Vienna

Richard Strebinger – 7: Could have been tested more but was alert throughout. Little he could do about either Arsenal goal.

Filip Stojkovic – 6: Started fairly solidly but did struggle somewhat as the game wore on.

Maximilian Hofmann – 7: Decent showing and made one key block at 1-0.

Mateo Barac – 6: Competent outing for the most part.

Kelvin Arase – 6: Always looked to get in promising positions but was largely denied the necessary service to make something happen from there.

Dejan Ljubicic – 6: Little to criticise in the case of the midfielder.

Srdjan Grahovac – 5: Cynical foul to stop a surging Pepe break saw the midfielder booked early on.

Maximilian Ullmann – 6: Solid performance in the middle of the pitch.

Ercan Kara – 7: Did a decent job of making a nuisance of himself, and that paid off as he intercepted Leno’s pass early in the second half before Fountas finished.

Marcel Ritzmaier – 5: Barnsley loanee’s deliveries were at times sub-par and he was booked in the second half.

Taxiarchis Fountas – 8: Looked his side’s best chance of scoring and did just that after Leno’s error.

Arsenal

Bernd Leno – 3: Gifted the hosts a goal early in the second half by passing it straight to them in the Arsenal box. Nearly repeated his mistake on two further occasions.

Cedric Soares – 6: Looked to push up the right flank as often as possible but wasn’t as convincing defensively.

David Luiz – 6: Brazilian put Leno under a bit of unnecessary pressure with a back pass that allowed Vienna to pounce and score shortly after half-time. Redeemed himself with a strong headed goal, though.

Gabriel – 7: Made a number of good clearances and looked assured for the most part.

Sead Kolasinac – 6: Stormed up the left wing with vigour as frequently as he could.

Thomas Partey – 8: First start for Arsenal. Showed his eagerness to make forward passes and his ability to read the game and break up play. Made a crucial tackle to stop Fountas getting a shot off after a swift Vienna break in the first half.

Mohamed Elneny – 7: A strong presence in the middle of the pitch for the visitors.

Bukayo Saka – 7: Lively on the ball and provided a couple of terrific deliveries.

Nicolas Pepe – 6: Pace troubled Vienna occasionally, but an end product was severely lacking – until the winger’s free-kick found Luiz’s head for the visitors to equalise.

Alexandre Lacazette – 6: Handed the captain’s armband, the striker held the ball up well at times but rarely looked like scoring.

Eddie Nketiah – 5: Unnecessarily booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle had gone at one point, and was later fortunate to escape a second booking for a challenge on Stojkovic.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 8: Came off the bench and injected a greater threat into the Arsenal front line. Didn’t take him long to score.

Hector Bellerin – 7: Substitute provided the assist for Aubameyang as Arsenal took the lead.

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