Schalke 04

2.92

• 
  25

  11

  3.00

  Lars Unnerstall

  Despite conceding twice, was largely untroubled and rarely called upon. Unlucky for Arsenal's opener, initially blocking Walcott's shot only for the ball to ricochet back into the winger's path. Powerless to prevent Giroud's powerful close-range header from finding the back of the net.

• 
  37

  8

  3.00

  Benedikt Höwedes

  Was very unfortunate for Arsenal's opener, racing back to make a brilliant last-ditch challenge just as Giroud was about to shoot, only for the ball to bounce into the path of Walcott. At fault for the second though, remaining static and allowing Giroud to head in Arsenal's second unchallenged. Moved to right-back mid-way through the second half. Used the ball well.

• 
  36

  11

  3.00

  Atsuto Uchida

  Galloped down the right flank from the very first minute and really worried Vermaelen. However, when he did beat the Belgian he was often ponderous and wasteful with his delivery. Injured after 20 minutes and replaced by Hoger.

• 
  30

  9

  3.00

  Christian Fuchs

  Austria's answer to Leighton Baines, Marauded up the line, whipping in crosses and sending in set-pieces. Dealt with Walcott well, though was too advanced to get back and prevent the winger from opening the scoring.

• 
  26

  9

  3.00

  Joel Matip

  Played quite well and had a good understanding with Howedes, though did not pick up Giroud for the Frenchman's goal despite being instructed to by his team-mate. Picked up a yellow card for a challenge from behind on Cazorla as the Spaniard was breaking clear.

• 
  72

  7

  3.50

  Lewis Holtby Top of the Match

  Linked play well, drifting between the lines, playing in team-mates with cute, first time passes, pulling out wide to cross. Turned Neustadter's high, hard to control pass into an assist, manipulating his body to volley the ball into the path of Huntelaar. Grabbed another assist of sorts, heading the ball into the path of Farfan for Schalke's equaliser.

• 
  61

  11

  3.00

  Ibrahim Afellay

  The Dutchman had a quiet game down the left flank, but showed flashes of his quality, not least when he whipped in a cross from which Farfan netted an equaliser. His drilled shot looked to be creeping inside the near post until Mannone pushed it clear.

• 
  32

  11

  3.00

  Jermaine Jones

  Covered a lot of ground in midfield, sometimes sitting in front of his defence, sometimes breaking forward in support of Huntelaar. Didn't show for the ball as often as he could have done, so much of Schalke's construction came through their centre-backs.

• 
  33

  12

  3.00

  Roman Neustädter

  A terrier in midfield, gobbling up ground, winning possession and quickly offloading to feed the more offensive players ahead of him. At fault for Arsenal's opener though, playing a blind back-header right into the path of Giroud.

• 
  54

  10

  3.00

  Jefferson Agustin Farfán

  Worried Vermaelen with his pace, twisting and turning and even bewildering the Belgian into falling over at one point. Grabbed Schalke's equaliser, taking a composed touch before rifling the ball into the back of the net via the Belgian.

• 
  71

  13

  3.00

  Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

  A supreme finisher, the Dutchman was practically anonymous in the first half until his stoppage time strike: a composed left foot volley across goal and into the bottom corner. But his composure in front of goal left him in the second half: breaking the offside trap, he only had Mannone to beat but shot straight at the Italian. Showed that he's not only a finisher with some cute and crafty first time lay-offs.

Substitutions

• 
  35

  7

  3.00

  Kyriakos Papadopoulos

  Replaced the injured Hoger with half an hour remaining, with Howedes moving to right-back. Used the ball well, playing several good cross-field passes to his full-backs.

• 
  4

  31

  1.50

  Marco Höger Flop of the Match

  Came on for the injured Uchida after 20 minutes and was immediately at fault allowing Podolski to turn, hit the byline and cross for Giroud to double Arsenal's advantage. The Schalke midfielder, playing out of position at right-back, continued to be troubled by Podolski until he twisted his ankle and was subbed in the 66th minute, ending his misery. Did have a shot cleared off the line by Arteta.

• 
  14

  11

  Tranquillo Barnetta

  Replaced Hotlby in stoppage time but had no time to impact the match.

Arsenal

2.82

• 
  134

  22

  3.00

  Vito Mannone

  Kept Arsenal from conceding even more goals with a number of solid saves. Made an excellent early stop to get down low and push Afellay's near-post drive away from goal. Could do little with Huntelaar's first half goal, but did brilliantly to deny the Dutchman at the start of the second half. Farfan's equaliser looked to be going wide until Vermaelen got a toe on it, so unlucky there also.

• 
  107

  10

  3.00

  Bacary Sagna

  Used the ball very well, rarely conceding possession, but didn't do enough to prevent Afellay from crossing for Schalke's equaliser. Had contained the Dutchman well up to that point.

• 
  75

  42

  2.50

  Per Mertesacker

  Enjoyed the aerial duels with Huntelaar, but struggled more with his movement, losing the Dutchman for Schalke's first half goal and stepping up terribly early in the second half to gift him a one-on-one chance. Often his clearances were weak, finding only a blue shirt.

• 
  38

  134

  1.50

  Thomas Vermaelen

  Not much better than Andre Santos was against Manchester United on Saturday. Had a poor game from the off, struggling early on to contain the vibrant, high-energy overlapping runs of full-back Uchida. Farfan also posed a significant threat, at one point leaving the Belgian lying bewildered on the floor. For Schalke's equaliser, he was attracted to a ball he failed to clear, giving Farfan time and space to shoot, with the Peruvian's effort striking his foot on its way into the net.

• 
  119

  14

  3.00

  Laurent Koscielny

  Very calm and composed on the ball, side-stepping challenges and using the ball well from deep without ever over-commiting. Relatively untroubled, though wasn't targeted to the extent that Mertesacker and Vermaelen were.

• 
  93

  19

  3.00

  Mikel Arteta

  Didn't retain possession to his usual high standards, partly because of the pressure applied by Jones, but was still a consistent out-ball, and linked well with Cazorla. Stopped Hoger's goal-bound shot on the line with his chest (though Schalke fans might argue it was his shoulder).

• 
  115

  30

  3.00

  Jack Wilshere

  Showed signs of his quality, but only sporadically - though given his prolonged absence, that is entirely understandable. Tired a lot in the second half. Looked a threat around the penalty box, committing Schalke players.

• 
  88

  37

  3.00

  Santi Cazorla

  Floated around the pitch, locating pockets of space and feeding his team-mates. Didn't consistently control the match as he has in the past, but creative nevertheless. His set-pieces were a frequent threat. Picked up a yellow card for handball. Replaced with minutes remaining by Coquelin.

• 
  119

  12

  3.00

  Lukas Podolski

  Easily spun substitute Hoger down the left flank before whipping in a brilliant, fierce near-post cross that Giroud powered into the back of the net. Didn't track back especially well, with Uchida exploiting that early on. Booked for dissent. Had less joy when Howedes moved to right-back. Replaced by Santos with only stoppage time remaining.

• 
  131

  19

  3.00

  Olivier Giroud

  Grabbed a goal but missed the target with two free headers inside the area. Was played clean through on goal by Neustadter's weak back-header but took an age to reach Unnerstall in the Schalke nets, allowing Howedes to race back and tackle him. Was more decisive minutes later though, running to the near post and powering a diving-header into the back of the net.

• 
  142

  30

  3.00

  Theo Walcott

  Opened the scoring for Arsenal with a bundled finish; his initial shot was saved by Unnerstall, but the ball ricocheted back into his path and tucked the ball into an open net. Otherwise, he was very quiet, rarely beating Fuchs. Did threaten to break the offside trap, but was flagged each time. Could have won the game in the dying minutes.

Substitutions

• 
  27

  102

  Andre Santos

  Replaced Podolski in stoppage time as Wenger looked to see out the draw, playing slightly ahead of Vermaelen.

• 
  63

  20

  Francis Coquelin

  Came on for Cazorla with just a few minutes remaining, but didn't have time to affect the match.