Arsenal travelled to Belarus on Thursday night to face BATE Borisov in the first leg of their Europa League tie. Here are the player ratings from the 1-0 defeat. Well, that was terrible. In the first leg of their Europa League round-of-32 tie against BATE Borisov, a team that they hit for six last season, Arsenal laid a complete egg, losing 1-0 and giving themselves some major work to do in the second leg in a week’s time. Unai Emery’s team created some good chances in the first half but could do little in the second as BATE sat deep and protected their lead. Here are the rather lousy player ratings. Goalkeeper<doc-sep>That sure was...something. Arsenal, as is their mode these days, took an easy thing and made it very, very hard. They made BATE look like a Champions League side, and while the fact that the BATE goal isn’t an away goal is some very, very slim consolation, the fact is that Arsenal have a big mountain to climb in the second leg next Thursday. And as an added bonus: there’s not a league game this weekend, so they have all week to ponder how awesome things are right now! Isn’t that great? I wrote a piece earlier in the week about whether Arsenal are doing what they need to be doing, and I’ve written in the past about having patience with Unai Emery. Today very seriously tested both of those stances, and depending on what happens next week, I might be taking a very different stance on a manager who was, after all, hired to win Arsenal the Europa League. I’m not giving up yet, but this game should have been very easily winnable, and Arsenal very easily lost it. Anyway, rate the players! Won’t that be fun? The form is here if you can’t see it below.<doc-sep>ARSENAL fell to a terrible defeat in Belarus against minnows BATE Borisov. The visiting Gunners were awful, lacking creativity and barely having any chances as they suffered a 1-0 defeat. 5 Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech reacts after Stanislav Dragun scores the winner for minnows BATE Borisov Credit: AP:Associated Press The shocking state of the pitch certainly didn't help, but Unai Emery's men were woeful. Stanislav Dragun scored the only goal of the game, heading home a first-half free-kick, but it could have been so much different had Henrikh Mkhitaryan turned in an early cross when one-on-one. Things went from bad to worse for Arsenal when Alexandre Lacazette was sent off for a nasty elbow. We rate the Arsenal players who lost to BATE - and it doesn't make for pretty reading. Piers Morgan leads angry Arsenal fan reaction to dire BATE defeat 5 Unai Emery's Arsenal fell were terrible in the 1-0 defeat to BATE Credit: Reuters Petr Cech Arsenal fans won't have it but there was little Cech could do with the first goal, it was a good header from Dragun. Apart from that the veteran goalkeeper stood up to everything that came his way. Shkodran Mustafi The German international was poor but somehow managed to come out of the game looking better than his defensive partners. Slow to read danger and nervy in possession. Laurent Koscielny Nearly cost the Gunners a goal when he completely switched off and allowed Nemanja Milic to sneak in and hit the post. The Gunners skipper is nowhere close to the player he once was. Nacho Monreal Another player well passed his prime who shouldn't really be a regular starter if Arsenal want to win trophies. Looked a yard off the pace, although he had little protection from Kolasinac. 5 Matteo Gueondouzi put in lots of effort but his final pass was lacking Credit: Reuters Ainsley Maitland-Niles The attributes for a good player are in there but Maitland-Niles is a long way from the finished product. Brilliant athleticism but too often picks the wrong choice - and what is his proper position? Matteo Guendouzi The floppy-haired midfielder wasn't great but he showed a lot more effort and courage than some of his more senior team-mates. Always made himself an option and wanted to carry the ball forward, although his final pass was poor and he was caught out of position a couple of times. Granit Xhaka Awful, awful performance from the midfielder, this is the kind of game that a top class central midfielder should dominate. Xhaka was meek on the ball and found himself out-thought by BATE midfielders. 5 Granit Xhaka had a shocking performance in the middle of midfield Credit: AP:Associated Press Saed Kolasinac Arguably Arsenal's most dangerous player which says a lot about how poor the rest of the side performed. Remains a poor defender and not quite a winger, he spurned a couple of good openings in the final third. Alex Iwobi The forward had some good moments but his obvious limitations encapsulate this team. When he decided to drive at BATE they were terrified but those moments were few and far between with Iwobi (whether under instruction or not) too often happy just to play an easy pass than take a risk. Henrikh Mkhitaryan If only Mkhitaryan had scored that early chance this game would have probably been a lot different. But he didn't and unless you were watching closely you probably forgot he was even on the pitch. Alexandre Lacazette gets sent off for elbowing Filipovic as Arsenal lose to BATE Borisov in Europa League Alexandre Lacazette The striker only had two good bits of service in 90 minutes from an Arsenal side severely lacking creativity. He then made matters much worse late on when he was sent off for a nasty elbow on Aleksandar Filipovic. 5 Alexandre Lacazette was sent off late for a nasty elbow Credit: Reuters SUBS: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Came on with just over 20 minutes to play but didn't have a chance. The lack of creativity and spark in this Arsenal team - missing Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey - really is shocking. Lucas Torreira It speaks to Arsenal's lack of options that a goal down and needing a win, Emery swaps one defensive midfielder for another. Where are the wingers? Denis Suarez Looked neat and tidy on the ball and tried to be positive but was often no options for him. BATE packed the middle of the park and dared Arsenal to break them down. They couldn't.<doc-sep>
BATE Borisov stunned ten-man Arsenal in the first leg of their round of 32 Europa League clash. The Gunners were flat all game and lacked ideas going forward as the home side locked up and kept the Premier League giants at bay. Borisov took the lead via a set piece, after Stanislaw Drahun got the better of Sead Kolasinac to loop a header past a badly-positioned Petr Cech. Arsenal failed to respond with any real urgency, before Alexandre Lacazette was sent off for an elbow late on. In the end it was a comfortable win for the Belarusian minnows who face the Gunners in London next week. Here's how we rated the performances. (Image: Reuters) Petr Cech 5 - Had little to do for the most part and made some good long-range saves but looked shakey. Could have done better for the goal? Laurent Koscielny 6 - One of Arsenal's better defenders on the night but didn't have a great deal to do. Shkodran Mustafi 5 - Wasn't really troubled in the game but failed to command his defence efficiently to protect his goal. Nacho Monreal 5 - Beaten too easily and failed to cover Kolasinac when he pushed forward. Most of the home side's attacks came down his side. Ainsley Maitland-Niles 6 - Worked very hard and showed enthusiasm but lacked quality in the final third. Hooked on 70 minutes. (Image: TATYANA ZENKOVICH/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock) Matteo Guendouzi 7 - Worked extremely hard and commanded the game for Arsenal at times. Played decent balls forward but attacking players not on the same page. Granit Xhaka 4 - Booked very early on for a silly tackle and lacked influence in the middle. Didn't look match fit. Hooked on 70 minutes. Sead Kolasinac 4 - Played left-wing back but offered little in attack and defence. Left too much space behind him. Was at fault for goal. Hooked on 73 minutes. Alex Iwobi 6 - Lively on the edge of the area but lacked the creativity to play a final ball. Henrikh Mkhitaryan 6 - Started well but faded. Missed huge chance early on to put Arsenal ahead. Alexandre Lacazette 3 - Sent off for an elbow. Isolated up top and struggled in the final third. Failed to time his run for the goal. Off the pace today and let his frustration get the better off him. (Image: REUTERS) Sub: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 5 - Came on too late to influence the game. Made decent runs but wasn't picked out. Sub: Lucas Torreira 5 - Looked better than Xhaka alongside Guendouzi but again could do little to turn the game around. Sub: Denis Suarez 5 - Quiet and failed to make any impact on the match.