The top player from recent matches is selected from football website Squawka and their scientific player performance scoring algorithm.
SQUAWKA Performance Score: 116
Arsenal thumped Everton 5-1 on Saturday night with Aaron Ramsey bagging his first hat-trick for the North London club. In fact, Ramsey became the 20th player to score a Premier League treble for the Gunners, more than any other team can brag about in the competition.
The Wales international opened the scoring after tapping in from close range a low cross into the box with ease as the unmarked man in the middle. Then the former Cardiff City player aimed and fired a deflected shot outside the box past the keeper to later sweep home his third with a beautiful finish running onto another low pass in the penalty area. This triple threat attack not only earned him the match ball but also ensured Ramsey became the sixth Welsh player to score a hat-trick in the top-tier of English football.
Manager Arsene Wenger was pleased with Ramsey’s performance stating:
‘He is calm in finishing. He used to rush it. Over the years, I think he can get 10-15 goals a season."
That is exactly what the fans want to see from the 27-year-old midfielder now in his prime only once hitting double figures during the last nine seasons at the club. The 2013/14 season Ramsey scored 10 goals in the league, he currently has six goals with another 12 games to go. If he keeps these performances up the midfield maestro could once and for all beat that record in what would be a fitting way to showcase his tenth year with the club, making over 200 appearances.
Great night for me personally and a brilliant response from the team #hatrick pic.twitter.com/Cq3WlvwaOv
— Aaron Ramsey (@aaronramsey) February 3, 2018
Did You Know?
Aaron Ramsey has been directly involved in 101 goals for Arsenal in all competitions (53 goals, 48 assists).
BBC SPORT
The Welshman had a Squawka attack score of 95 always surging forward, evading defenders it’s no wonder he managed to score three goals against a disorganised Toffee team. Ramsey just loves scoring against Everton, netting six times in his past four games against the Merseyside club, earlier in the season he popped up to bag a goal in the seven-goal thriller at Goodison Park too. Evertonians must be glad to see the back of this match up for the season because the Gunners have beaten them 96 times in league competition, more than one side has beaten another in Football League history!
Did You Know?
Arsenal-Everton is the highest-scoring fixture in Premier League history (151 goals), with Arsenal's 105 against the Toffees a record for one team against another in the competition.
BBC SPORT
It’s been an eventful January for Arsenal with big name players coming and going this grand victory was a step in the right direction. However, they have not kept a clean sheet in eight league matches and still sit five points off a Champions League qualification place. Wenger says they need to find the right balance between attack and defence if they are to finish the season successfully. Essentially from now on they cannot afford to drop any more points, which may be easier said than done with upcoming games against rivals Tottenham, and both the Manchester clubs – all three teams currently above them, no pressure.
