Arsenal endured a surprising defeat against Southampton on Sunday with couple of goals from Danny Ings and of course ‘the winner’ from Charlie Austin.
Talking about the Game, Bernd Leno had an awful display today and Arsenal run of 22 unbeaten streak has come to an end. As Arsenal fan, you’ll look disappointed for the first time in very long time. I mean, from the display which we put up today – we didn’t look to have twenty-two games on our back by any means. It was lazy at times and it was all haphazard.
I think you would expect this as soon as you read the starting line-ups. Unai Emery came up with a shocker at the centre back, with Granit Xhaka partnering returning Laurent Koscielny. Now talking about Koscielny, he looks far from ready, ain’t he? – I was pretty excited and confident about his return. I was thinking about that ‘Sokratis-Koscielny‘ duo, which not only brings experience but the difference of qualities and strengths between them completes about every needs standing on the last line. But watching him against Southampton and all you can think of is – He was on the sidelines for long long time and it would possibly take him couple of weeks more (4 games expecting 2 games/week) atleast to get us to trust him at the back once again. Nothing to take away from him, he was out for seven months and its always going to be difficult making return from injury like that. But if we look at both the Danny Ings goals, you would feel Laurent Koscielny could have done more. I think he was sloppy, but can’t blame him though, as I said – seven months is a long time and He had to start with learning ‘How to walk again’. Although, I feel, Laurent Koscielny has a big part to play in the second half of the season and hopefully we can see him, if not better atleast at par to his abilities.
I don’t doubt Unai Emery, and would suggest he would have given it a deep thought but Yesterday’s performance just shows, ‘Why Granit Xhaka is important in the midfield’. We can talk about, How Lucas Torreira drives forward and those through balls from Matteo Guendouzi but you shouldn’t forget Granit Xhaka leads the Premier League chart with most passes into the final third (197, to be precise). And for me, the duo of Guendouzi and Torreira just doesn’t work – there is bit need of maturity therein and Guendouzi still needs time.
Feeling Disappointed. It’s been a long time being an Arsenal fan and sleeping in disappointment, Unai Emery and his men are playing with a personality but you could blame injuries for today’s loss. But lets not consider injuries to be bate to get out of our loss but yeah, it plays some role in not getting three points.
Arsenal went to Southampton, who appointed Ralph Hasenhuttl as their manager just a week back. Now, as per the initial information given to me, coming into The Saints’ dressing room – Ralph made it clear, ‘its my way or the highway‘. Beyond that, Southampton’s training sessions were described to be intense. So, for me them men in Red and Whites of the Saints prepared for this more than us.
If you look at the game against Huddersfield and then get your eye on Southampton, there is a similarity on the Gunners hand of lack in breaking down the opponents defence. Talking about Southampton’s defence, they have five centre backs but none of them was reliable enough until they came against Arsenal. Just to clarify, I don’t mean they are bad players, all of them are match winners on their day but they were too ponderous or too casual it may either be due of lack of mentality or confidence, maybe.
They were organized and did not give us enough of space to exploit and with time it frustrated us.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has now scored more Premier League goals for Arsenal than he managed for Man Utd:
đ´ Man Utd: 39 games, 5 goals
đ´ Arsenal: 25 games, 6 goalsNot a bad swap… pic.twitter.com/CZ7mJJ06YW
â Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 16, 2018
One man made sure that their defence know exactly WHERE THEY STAND, Henrikh Mkhitaryan score both the goals for Arsenal. The first one coming from the late run into the box and the second one out of deflection, but they weren’t enough to take any point from St. Mary’s.
Mkhitaryan has not enjoyed the best of himself this season, he was taken under the axe for his lazy (I find him not giving enough as Emery asks) performances this season. Well, the day on which entire squad seemed lazy – The Armenian Moartz rises up to the occasion.
THE CHARLIE PROBLEM
In the post match conference, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed that some of his players exactly knew how to give Arsenal some problems.
“Most of our guys, I don’t want to pick one out, but most of the team knew what we had to do to have a chance against Arsenal.”, said overwhelmed Ralph.
You thinking what I am thinking? – It has to be Charlie fre*kin’ Austin. He knows Arsenal. He exactly knows ‘How to get on the score-sheets against us’. Charlie Austin now has five goals against Arsenal in five Premier League appearances making it one every time he has faced the Gunners.
But to be honest, we didn’t do anything wrong. One good ball and a leap of bad faith from Leno was all it took for Charlie to get the three points.
Charlie Austin has scored in all five of his Premier League meetings against Arsenal:
2014-15 â˝ď¸
2014-15 â˝ď¸
2017-18 â˝ď¸
2017-18 â˝ď¸
2018-19 â˝ď¸The Gunnersâ worst nightmare. pic.twitter.com/vwu4KBTOkO
â Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 16, 2018
YOU MESS-UT IT UP
Arsenal fans were busy urging Unai Emery to get Mesut Ozil back into first team set up after injury concerns kept him on sidelines for a bit. Emery did push him in when his magic was needed the most but it all turned out against him. Ozil instead tried leaving the ball, only to end up in Saints leg and that eventually lead to the winner.
Meanwhile, Gunners coach Per Mertesacker believes Ozil is still a vital player for the club.
“Mesut is a player with magical abilities,â he said.
âLast time (for the 1-0 won at home to Huddersfield Town on December 8) he was injured.
âNow I’m curious how he fights back. He can still be very valuable to Arsenal.”
Unai Emery gave Mesut twenty minutes and the World Cup winner took those to show Unai, he was right to drop him.
DEFENSIVE VOWS
We saw some rotation at the back line. Arsenal started with Laurent Koscielny in three men defence alongside 34-year-old Stephan Lichsteiner and 26-year-old midfield maestro Granit Xhaka. Like seriously?
And with Hector Bellerin injured now, we’ve got some real problems at the back.
This can’t wait till summer, Arsenal need to bring in someone, if not on permanent basis, atleast on temporary one, in the winter.
YOU CAN’T ROAST KOS
too early for Laurent Koscielny ? pic.twitter.com/BvYQtViyaY
â Don Draper (@arsenalbarclays) December 16, 2018
We were all excited about having Laurent ‘skipper’ Koscielny back with us, and two games in we are already criticizing him high time. Look, first thing you need to do is, think straight. Koscielny has been there for us for – I think seven-eight years now. He has probably been the best we’ve had for years. He is back from a big injury and is only two games in – under the management of Unai Emery. He will take time. He will need time. You cannot rule him out too soon.
Yes, I agree that Lolo could have done more for couple of goals. He could have been better positioned and maybe given more of himself dealing with those crosses, but its time we show some patience with him.
LETS TALK ABOUT LENO NOW…
I admitted Bernd Leno looked awful against Southampton, particularly the last goal – he could just stay in the centre and catch the ball comfortably rather than messing it up with a goal and three points.
You need a big giant goalkeeper who saves you from these kinda situations, Liverpool – they signed Alisson from Roma in the summer and despite of the hefty price tag, he has made his presence felt. I came across this stat while researching for this article – Liverpool had sixty percent of shots save by Mignolet by this time of the year where as as of now Alisson has saved eighty-seven percent of them. You would say they got Virgil Van Dijk to make the difference, mate the number of shots on target are still alike the difference is just Alisson.
Most of the Gooner and football pundits have criticized the German shot stopper for the decision he made before the Saints scored their third, and even Roy Keane said that he wasnât happy that Bernd Leno was seen smiling and chatting with Austin after the game. Trust me, if that ball landed in his hands – we all would have clapped for him.
âThe last goal was a little bit unlucky for me, I wanted to get the cross because Austin was completely free and it was so close.â Bernd Leno told Arsenal Player.
âNo risk, no fun. Maybe next time I will get the ball or I will stay on the line, look at the ball and then nobody says âyou came out and didnât get the ballâ. Thatâs the life of a goalkeeper but I would do it again.â
And just go easy on the lad, Leno has performed exceptionally well till now, it was just one judgement mistake and we are all pinpointing him.
WE PLAYED WELL, INFACT – BETTER THAN SOUTHAMPTON
Arsenal were by far the better team against Southampton despite the latter taking all the three points at St. Mary’s. It was not at all a bad performance and I think we are dealing with it quite naively.
Aubameyang failed to get a one-v-one past keeper and was also intercepted in the end of a tap in – which I would consider two easy goals any other day. Alex McCarthy saved Lacazette’s header and we also get some opportunities which should have found the back of the net. Yes, we lost but we did not put up a bad performance.
NOW?
We play Tottenham once again, this time in the League Cup on Wednesday. Lets get back and be back on a roll once again. #COYG
