Manchester City: Player Ratings in defeat to Arsenal

Manchester City will not defend their FA Cup title after losing 2-0 to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at Wembley in the semifinal.

Manchester City simply did not look themselves in London today as they lost in the FA Cup for the first time in over two years. City and Pep Guardiola simply could not find the final touch to gain the advantage and were clinically punished by their former assistant’s team in a stinging defeat.

Arsenal were brilliant defensively, but City were extremely poor for large stretches and once again could not find a way to get a result, and will now only have the Champions League left to worry about.

Defense

Ederson (GK): Made a big save on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when the game was still 0-0 and also made a great save on a headed corner from Shkodran Mustafi, and there was little he could do on either goal. (7.5)

Kyle Walker (RB): Beaten at the far post for Aubameyang’s opener, and the game was never the same from there. (5)

Eric García (CB): Exposed for pace by one of the league’s best forwards on the second, and is beginning to go through his first real rough patch of form. (5)

Aymeric Laporte (CB): Rifled a shot just wide of the post, and was not spectacular defensively by any means but was still the team’s best defender. (6.5)

Benjamin Mendy (LB): A very bipolar performance. While he whipped in a few dangerous crosses, he was exposed constantly by Arsenal on the break, allowed the cross to come in on the opener, miscontrolled multiple balls, and his lax positioning cost him. (5.5)

Midfield

İlkay Gündoğan (CDM): Looked shaky in the holding role and did not provide much going forward. While at his best he’s an engine and decent at nearly everything asked of a midfielder, when the German is playing poorly he has very few redeeming qualities in any area. (5)

David Silva (CAM): Although he has been in great form recently, it simply wasn’t there today. He came close on a few chances from De Bruyne, and putting one in the back of the net could have completely turned the tide. (6)

Kevin de Bruyne (CAM): The Belgian wasn’t at his best, but received very little support from his teammates. He was dangerous throughout the game, and if anyone puts in one of the multitude of quality crosses he played, he’s receiving a completely different review here. (7)

Attack

Riyad Mahrez (RW): It is usually very clear whether Mahrez is on or off, and tonight, it was very obvious quickly we would not see the winger at his best. His bizarre decision making in missing a crucial through pass in the first half was a factor today, and he couldn’t run at the sturdy Arsenal defense. (4.5)

Gabriel Jesus (ST): Very little involvement in a crowded penalty box, and it was one of those matches that makes you wonder if Sergio Agüero could have found an inch of space to get City going. (5)

Raheem Sterling (LW): Had several chances, but was absolutely walled by the Gunners defense as his run of good form and City’s FA Cup repeat dreams were dashed all at once. (5.5)

Substitutes

Phil Foden (RW): By the time he entered the game, Arsenal were resigned to merely holding what they had, and I believe he could have made a much greater impact if he had started the game. (6)

Rodri (CDM): Another player whom I firmly believe should have started. City were frenetic and could not get into their tempo for much of the first half, something Rodri provides so well. (6)

Fernandinho (CDM): Came on late when the result was already beyond all doubt to stay fresh. (6)

Manchester City: Player Ratings in defeat to Arsenal

By J.C. Gonzalez | Jul 18, 2020

Manchester City will not defend their FA Cup title after losing 2-0 to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at Wembley in the semifinal.

Defense

Midfield

More from Game Review

Attack